The Rt Rev John Bryson Chane, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, sees himself as a facilitator of inter-faith dialogue with religious leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Last September, he co-hosted the American visit of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami.  Then, last month, Bp Chane and other American clerics visited Iran at Khatami’s invitation.  On Christmas Day, Chane appeared on a US morning news-talk show to speak about his trip.

Chane shared with the national television audience that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all have “holy books and texts” that “are very similar,” and “they all focus on the issues of peace and tranquility and brotherhood.” He also waxed eloquent: “We share far more in common than we do that divides us. And that which divides us, we can disagree with.”

“We” can have disagreements about religion with Iran’s leaders, but Iranians cannot.  Just before Christmas, fourteen Iranians who converted from Islam to Christianity were detained and their Bibles and other religious materials confiscated.  (All except the pastor were released a few weeks later.  No word on whether their Bibles were returned, but I’d say it’s doubtful.)

The Anglican Church of St Simon the Zealot in Shiraz is being led by a lay preacher because the government will not permit him to travel abroad for seminary training.   The church’s former rector was executed on suspicion of performing baptisms.

If President Ahmadinejad had his druthers, all Iranian Muslims who embrace Christ would be put to death.

In his own report on last month's visit to Iran, Bp Chane asserts that he and the mullahs “engaged in intense mutual scrutiny” and “candid conversations”, yet there is no mention of persecution of Christians.  The bishop says he held a supposedly forceful dialogue with Iran’s theocrats but apparently never raised harassment and maltreatment of Christians—including fellow Anglicans.  Hmmmm. What’s wrong with this picture?

h/t: Pearcey Report

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