jews force Church of England to publicly discipline Dr. Stephen Sizer

[yankeedoodle]

Vicar accused of antisemitism faces removal from Church of England at disciplinary hearing
Rev Dr Stephen Sizer is facing 11 instances of alleged antisemitism
https://www.thejc.com/news/news/vicar-accused-of-antisemitism-faces-removal-from-church-of-england-at-disciplinary-hearing-3BfOl2HhZVLj74O55NuCba?reloadTime=1653398575808

A vicar accused of sharing a platform with a Holocaust denier and promoting antisemitic material online is facing removal from the Church of England.

The Rev Dr Stephen Sizer is facing 11 instances of alleged antisemitism, as outlined yesterday at the opening of a Church disciplinary hearing – the first of its kind to be held in public.

He denies the allegations or the claim that he is any way antisemitic.

The Clergy Disciplinary Measure against Dr Sizer, 68, follows a complaint from the Board of Deputies to the head of his current diocese, the Bishop of Winchester, who referred him to the ecclesiastical professional hearing.

The vicar had been banned by his former diocese from using social media for six months in 2015, but still continued to make "deeply offensive" and "unpleasant" antisemitic pronouncements, the hearing in London heard.

President of the Board of Deputies Marie van der Zyl said Dr Zizer's views were "enough to make me sick forever".

She said she believed Dr Sizer "promotes antisemitism on every platform he has access to".

She added: "There is a whole series of behaviours in the complaint that you cannot say are not antisemitic.

"It is all really distressing. And to think this came from somebody in the Church of England.

"It is so hurtful, especially the stuff about the Holocaust. It's really awful.

Sizer's conduct is alleged to have been "unbecoming or inappropriate to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders".

The case against him is that he "provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in antisemitic behaviour" through a series of actions in recent years.

These include participating in a conference run by the Iran-backed Islamic Human Rights Commission in 2005.

He is also said to have spoken at a conference in Indonesia in 2008 alongside Fred Tobin, an alleged Holocaust denier.

Dr Sizer is accused too of posting a link to an article which was entitled "9/11/Israel did it", and of posting on Facebook an item claiming former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a victim of "the hidden hands of Zionism".

The allegations were outlined in the opening of the case against Dr Sizer by barrister Nicholas Leviseur, who told the hearing at Holborn's St Andrew's Church Courtroom: "Dr Sizer displayed deliberate behaviour which we say is difficult to characterise as anything other than antisemitic."

Mr Leviseur highlighted the media article headed "9/11: Israel did it".

When Dr Sizer reposted it on social media, he had added the comment of his own: "Is this antisemitic? If so, no doubt I will be asked to remove it. It raises many questions."

Mr Leviseur told the hearing Sizer's comments did not amount to "a rhetorical question" because there was "only one answer to this question and that is Yes. It is deeply antisemitic."

The lawyer, standing just feet away from Dr Sizer in the cramped hearing room, continued: "In fact the only question it raises is the question as to the sanity of the person who wrote it.

"He would have to have known how offended the Jewish community must be by this deeply offensive document, but he nonetheless endorsed it not just by reposting it, but by saying himself how many questions it raised."

Acting for Dr Sizer at the hearing, Stephen Hofmeyr QC refuted the claim that his client was antisemitic.

Mr Hofmeyr said that throughout his 35-year career as a cleric, Dr Sizer had never made any antisemitic pronouncements.

He told the hearing: "The impact of antisemitism on Jewish people is as pronounced as racism is on black people. Of this there can be no doubt.

"Dr Sizer has written a book in which he says that racism is a sin and so is antisemitism, and both must be repudiated unequivocally.

"Dr Sizer also wrote in 2008 that Holocaust denial has no place whatsoever in political, social or religious discourse.

"He has also said that legitimate criticism of Israel's political stance towards Palestine must not be used as an excuse for attacks on the people of Israel."

The Bishop of Winchester, in whose diocese Dr Sizer's church is, suspended the Anglican priest from his ministry in 2018 pending the outcome of this hearing.

Dr Sizer denies 11 allegations of antisemitic behaviour.

The hearing panel comprises of chair David Pittaway QC, two members of the clergy, the Rev Geoffrey Eze and the Rev Liz Hughes, and two lay members, Gabrielle Higgins and Canon Andrew Halstead.

The hearing continues.




Previous reports in TiU about the great Dr. Stephen Sizer:

Church of England guilt-trips Christians about holohoax  http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=25798.msg91003#msg91003

Thanks, Dr. Stephen Sizer  http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=23655.msg87576#msg87576

Essay Detailing Vicar Rev. Stephen Sizer and israel Did It 911 Comments SHARE!  http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=19002.msg75446#msg75446

Reverend Stephen Sizer - telling the truth in the C of E  http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=18992.msg75363#msg75363

[yankeedoodle]

"Medieval" Zio-Inquisition stopped in its tracks?
Vicious hounding of brave churchman Stephen Sizer hits the buffers at tribunal
By Stuart Littlewood
https://www.redressonline.com/2022/05/medieval-zio-inquisition-stopped-in-its-tracks/

Reverend Stephen Sizer has been hauled up before a Church of England tribunal on trumped up charges of anti-Semitism cobbled together by the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD), an organisation claiming to represent British Jewry.

Of course, this is not the first time the pro-Israel hardcore have taken a pop at this unruly priest. Back in 2015 I was writing how Sizer had been sent to the naughty corner and Christian principles sacrificed for the sake of his bishop's anxiety not to offend.

Stephen Sizer has a long history of standing against the Israeli regime, its policies and its sheer nastiness.  In 2012-13 the Church of England agreed to a "process of conciliation" between Sizer and the Board of Deputies, then fuming over his remarks and continuing to do so to this day.

In 2014 the BoD demanded an investigation by the Church into why Sizer attended a conference in Iran which included the showing of a video of the anti-Zionist French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala. Jonathan Arkush, Vice-President of the BoD, said: "His appearance at a conference sponsored by a regime that actively persecutes Christians and other minorities is inexplicable..."

I love the cheeky accusation that Iran persecutes Christians etc, as if Arkush's beloved Israel is squeaky clean on that score. "The Iranian government denies the holocaust and openly calls for the destruction of Israel, which is tantamount to bringing about another holocaust," Arkush continued. "Rev. Sizer's participation might be seen as lending pseudo credence to an event whose premise is clear from its programme: to lay blame on Israel and Jews for the world's ills, including, it would seem, 9/11. The Church of England should investigate why one of its ministers deemed it appropriate to take part in an anti-Semitic hate-fest."

Why the Church didn't tell the BoD, politely, to mind its own business isn't explained.

Regarding the current attack on Sizer and the C of E's appeasing tribunal, I've just received a report on proceedings from Dr Swee Ang. Malaysian-born Swee is the first female orthopaedic consultant appointed to St Bartholomew ('Barts') and the Royal London Hospitals. What does she know about Israel's nauseating conduct, you may wonder?

In the 1980s and 1990s Swee worked as trauma and orthopaedics consultant in the refugee camps of Lebanon and later for the United Nations in Gaza, and the World Health Organisation in the West Bank and Gaza. She is Founder and Patron of the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).

She is the co-author of War Surgery and Acute Care of the War Wounded, and also wrote From Beirut to Jerusalem, documenting her experience in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Gaza.

And she was aboard the Al-Awda, sailing for Gaza with urgently needed medical supplies when the vessel was violently assaulted and hijacked in international waters and taken to an Israeli port. Passengers and crew were roughed up (some seriously injured) and abused, thrown in an Israeli jail and had their possessions and money stolen.

It seems the tribunal may have backfired on the BoD and the cowards in the C of E. Here's what Dr Swee says:

The tribunal is over but the decision may not be known for another six weeks or more.

The reason for the delay is because the tribunal panel must consider a number of factors, including the right to free speech, double jeopardy, what constitutes antisemitism, the views of the Jewish community in the UK and also what does and does not constitute appropriate conduct for Anglican clergy.

However, because it was heard in open court, it has already been reported that based on the findings of the expert witness, Tony Lerman, the tribunal recognised the IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition to be of no use whatsoever in determining what is and is not antisemitism, least of all in a legal context. This ruling, if recorded in the tribunal report, will create a precedent which may be the most significant and lasting outcome, not just for the Church of England but other contexts where the IHRA definition is being used to silence criticism of Israeli policies and practices.

Furthermore barrister, Stephen Hofmeyr QC is quoted even in the Daily Mail as saying, "It is significant that not one word or statement from Dr Sizer has been shown to be anti-Semitic. There are none."

As you may know, there have been several encouraging statements of support from Sabeel, IHRC (Islamic Human Rights Commission) and ICAHD [Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions].

Back to Medieval days

In ICAHD's response to the harassing of Stephen Sizer, its director, Jeff Halper, said:

As an Israeli Jew and the head of an Israeli human rights organisation  – ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – I am appalled by the very thought of bringing anyone, let alone such a principled person as Stephen Sizer, before a religious tribunal. What, are we back to the Medieval days of the Inquisition?

Swee reports a second ICAHD statement, which goes as follows:

A member of the ICAHD UK Executive Committee attended the tribunal throughout the week and commended Hofmeyr for his brilliantly precise, forensic and humane dismantling of all accusations levied against Stephen; and Stephen's witnesses (Tony Lerman, Diana Neslen, Prof Ilan Pappe, Canon Garth Hewitt, Rev. Jeremy Moody, amongst others) as dignified, honourable experts in their field. Throughout it, Stephen Sizer was gentle, open, articulate and gracious: a man who builds bridges.

She rounds off her report by saying:

The decision from the five-members of the tribunal panel is due in July and the full proceedings should be available to the public upon request.

These are the weighty issues of law the tribunal must decide on:]

1. Freedom of speech under European human rights legislation;
2. Double jeopardy as some of the complaints have been dealt with previously;
3. The panel rejected the IHRA definition of antisemitism and must agree on another by which to evaluate the allegations;
4. The representative nature of the BoD and the fact that five of the witnesses were Jewish and reject the allegation that he has offended the Jewish community;
5. The nature of social media.
6. They must also decide in the light of all the above whether his conduct is consistent with what is expected of clergy or is considered unbecoming.

God bless, Dr Swee Ang.

[yankeedoodle]

Vicar found guilty of antisemitism by Church of England
Disciplinary panel still to decide Rev Dr Stephen Sizer's punishment
https://www.thejc.com/news/news/vicar-found-guilty-of-antisemitism-by-church-of-england-7JMV2MGS6AtI5l4io0XKCC?reloadTime=1670431118678

A vicar has been found guilty "antisemitic activity" by a first-of-its-kind Church of England public tribunal

Rev Dr Stephen Sizer was found to have carried out "conduct unbecoming" of an ordained minister after sharing a platform with a Holocaust denier and promoting antisemitic material online.

The Tribunal ruled against Sizer after hearing evidence of  11 instances of alleged antisemitism.

He denied the allegations and claims that he is antisemitic but , in an unprecedented judgment, the Tribunal found Dr Sizer's conduct had "provoked and offended" the Jewish community over a sustained period.

The Anglican priest, who has been suspended from his ministry since 2018, was also criticised for being "disingenuous in his answers".  His punishment will be decided at a later date.

The Tribunal concluded Dr Sizer "pushed the boundaries beyond what was acceptable conduct, and [engaged in] antisemitic activity when he knew, [what] he was posting was virulently antisemitic".

The Tribunal chair David Pittaway KC said the question was "not whether the Respondent thought that the behaviour should be described as such but whether the Tribunal finds the behaviour to be antisemitic."

The Clergy Disciplinary Measure process against Dr Sizer, 68, began following a complaint from the Board of Deputies to the head of his Diocese, the Bishop of Winchester, who referred him to the ecclesiastical hearing.

The President of  The Board of Deputies, Marie van der Zyl commend the Tribunal's "unprecedented judgement".

She said: "I am grateful to the Tribunal for accepting the evidence of the Board of Deputies. The Board will always act to defend and protect the Jewish community. "

The vicar was previously banned by his former diocese from using social media for six months in 2015, but still continued to make "deeply offensive" and "unpleasant" antisemitic pronouncements, the hearing in London heard.

The case against him is was he "provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in antisemitic behaviour" through a series of actions in recent years.

These include participating in a conference run by the Iran-backed Islamic Human Rights Commission in 2005.

He admitted to having spoken at a conference in Indonesia in 2008 alongside Fred Tobin, an alleged Holocaust denier.

Mr Sizer expressed "his disapproval to the organisers and other speakers" when he discovered that Mr Tobin was present, but did not withdraw from the event. He also said he was "not aware that two persons from Hezbollah were present" at this event.

The vicar also admitted to having met, a senior Hezbollah commander Sheikh Kaouk in 2006, claiming that he "advised" him that Hezbollah should release captured Israeli soldiers.

Dr Sizer also accused posted a link to an article which was entitled "9/11/Israel did it" in 2015.

When Dr Sizer reposted it on social media, he had added the comment of his own: "Is this antisemitic? If so, no doubt I will be asked to remove it. It raises many questions."

He also posted to Facebook an item claiming former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a victim of "the hidden hands of Zionism". On this accusation, The Tribunal "is satisfied that the Respondent reposted the article in the knowledge that it would provoke and offend the Jewish community

The Bishop of Winchester, in whose diocese Dr Sizer's former parish of Christ Church Virginia Water is situated, suspended the Anglican priest in 2018 pending the outcome of this hearing.

The hearing panel comprised of chair David Pittaway KC, two members of the clergy, the Rev Geoffrey Eze and the Rev Liz Hughes, and two lay members, Gabrielle Higgins and Canon Andrew Halstead.

A penalty hearing will need to take place in future, the panel said.

In a statement delivered by his barrister, Mr Sizer said he was "most grateful to the Tribunal for the careful way in which they approached the evidence and reached their conclusions.

"I accept those conclusions and the criticisms of my conduct, and apologise unreservedly for the hurt and offence caused.

He stressed that he was "particularly sorry that I posted a link on Facebook in January 2015 to an article blaming Israel for 9/11, and repeat my apology for the deep hurt that my conduct caused.

"I do not propose to say any more at this juncture as I pray and reflect further," he went on.

[yankeedoodle]

Vicar guilty of 'antisemitic activity' banned until 2030
Revd Dr Stephen Sizer's ban on clerical duties is among the longest in modern CofE history
https://www.thejc.com/news/news/vicar-guilty-of-'antisemitic-activity'-banned-until-2030-2rbzY4eVbQjoLmCIIsByOV?reloadTime=1675191885900

An Anglican priest will be defrocked until 2030 after being found guilty of "antisemitic activity".

Revd Dr Stephen Sizer, who has been suspended from his ministry since 2018, will be banned from carrying out the functions of an ordained minister until his penalty expires in over seven years' time.

The ban comes after the former parish vicar was found guilty of "antisemitic activity" by a first-of-its-kind Church of England public tribunal last December. It is one step down from the most serious penalty that Anglican priests can be punished with: prohibition for life.

Following the 30 January hearing at the court house adjacent to St Andrew's Church Holborn, it was announced that: "The unanimous conclusion of the tribunal is that the appropriate period of prohibition from exercising any ministry or functions as a clerk in holy orders, in this case, is a period of twelve years."

The decision to include time already served in the prohibition means he will be unable to act as a minister for another seven years until 12 December 2030.

The tribunal heard evidence of 11 instances of alleged antisemitism. The 68-year-old denied the allegations that he was antisemitic but, in December's unprecedented judgment, it concluded that in four of the 11 claims, Dr Sizer's conduct was "unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders," in that he "provoked and offended" the Jewish community over a sustained period.

He was also found to have carried out "conduct unbecoming" of an ordained minister after sharing a platform with a Holocaust denier and promoting antisemitic material online.

The tribunal ruled Dr Sizer had engaged in "antisemitic activity" in one of the 11 allegations; a post in January 2015 that contained a link to an article entitled "9/11/Israel did it".

Dr Sizer was also criticised for being "disingenuous in his answers". The Bishop of Winchester, in whose diocese Dr Sizer's former parish of Christ Church Virginia Water is situated, suspended the Anglican priest in 2018 pending the outcome of this hearing.

The Clergy Disciplinary Measure process against Dr Sizer began following a complaint from the Board of Deputies to the head of his Diocese, the Bishop of Winchester, who referred him to the ecclesiastical hearing.

The vicar was previously banned by his former diocese from using social media for six months in 2015, but still continued to make "deeply offensive" and "unpleasant" antisemitic pronouncements, last December's hearing in London heard.

The tribunal heard that he "provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in antisemitic behaviour" through a series of actions in recent years.

These include participating in a conference run by the Iran-backed Islamic Human Rights Commission in 2005.

He admitted to having spoken at a conference in Indonesia in 2008 alongside Fred Tobin, an alleged Holocaust denier.

The vicar also admitted to having met senior Hezbollah commander Sheikh Kaouk in 2006, claiming that he "advised" him that Hezbollah should release captured Israeli soldiers. The tribunal said this meeting was unbecoming and inappropriate for an ordained minister, but that Dr Sizer was not engaging in antisemitic activity.

He also posted to Facebook an item claiming former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a victim of "the hidden hands of Zionism". However, the panel concluded that Dr Sizer was not engaging in antisemitic activity in this instance.

Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews representative body who brought the case against the disgraced vicar, told the JC: "I am pleased that the Tribunal has made an unambiguous statement in banning Stephen Sizer from being able to act as a Clerk in Holy Orders for 12 years. Given that he indulged in 'antisemitic activity' and caused grievous offence to the Jewish community over a number of years, this is the correct decision.

"I am grateful to the Tribunal for hearing our evidence and look forward to a continued strong and close relationship with the Church of England in the coming years. Many thanks to my predecessor as President, Jonathan Arkush, who also worked tirelessly on this case with me," she went on.

Following the penalty judgment, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: "I note the findings of the Bishop's Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Winchester regarding the Revd Dr Stephen Sizer and his subsequent prohibition from licensed ministry in the Church of England.

"It is clear that the behaviour of Stephen Sizer has undermined Christian-Jewish relations, giving encouragement to conspiracy theories and tropes that have no place in public Christian ministry and the church. I renew my call for the highest possible standards among ordained ministers of the Church of England in combatting antisemitism of all kinds."




Also, here's an earlier TiU post that includes a video with Dr. Sizer:  http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=23655.msg87576#msg87576