Rod Bower (activist)
{{Short description|Australian Anglican priest and social activist}}
{{Distinguish|text=the Australian cricketer, Rod Bower}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2019}}
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| pre-nominals = The Venerable
| name = Rod Bower
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| birth_place = Newcastle, New South Wales
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| nationality = Australian
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| occupation = Priest
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| employer = Anglican church
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| known_for = Human rights activism
Criticism of the Christian right{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Joanne |title=The hungover 'epiphany' on the way to the priesthood |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/5611044/the-hungover-epiphany-on-the-way-to-the-priesthood/ |website=Newcastle Herald |access-date=12 February 2019 |language=en |date=30 August 2018}}
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| party = Independents For Climate Action Now
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Rodney Scott Bower (born 1962) is an Australian Anglican priest and social activist.{{Cite web |url=https://www.anggos.com.au/our-team |title=Gosford Anglican |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212190344/https://www.anggos.com.au/our-team |url-status=dead }} He was formerly the Rector of Gosford, on the New South Wales Central Coast,{{Cite news |last1=Wainwright |first1=Sofie |last2=Vince |first2=Mary-Louise |date=2022-02-21 |title='Keep the tradition going': Provocative billboard priest Father Rod signs off |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-21/controversial-church-sign-priest-leaves-the-central-coast/100847448 |access-date=2023-05-06}} and Archdeacon for Justice Ministries and Chaplaincy in the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, and is now their Director of Mission. He is most known for his church signs that advocate progressive causes.{{cite news |last1=Bowden |first1=Tracy |title=What drives the priest behind those controversial church signs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-30/what-drives-the-priest-behind-those-controversial-church-signs/10169188 |website=ABC News |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en-AU |date=30 August 2018}}
Theology
Bower has said:
"When we explore, perhaps, what I mean when I use the word 'God' we can come close to a common ground [with atheists] because I'm not talking about some divine being. God is the very act of existing. And so there's a point of meeting for atheists and people of faith.https://vimeo.com/129361594 The Bower Effect at 4:20 I don't really believe in Heaven and Hell at least not in the traditional sense. If there is a Heaven it must be a bit like Mardi Gras."{{Cite web|url=https://davidould.net/rev-rod-bower-i-dont-believe-in-heaven-or-hell/|title=Rev. Rod Bower: "I don't believe in heaven or hell…"|date=2 March 2014}}
Activism
Bower is known for his controversial political activism in which he promotes progressive causes through the Gosford Anglican church's message sign. He has promoted issues relating to gay marriage, refugee rights, gun control, anti-nationalism, and anti-Rupert Murdoch's media monopoly.{{cite web |last1=Mao |first1=Frances |title=A priest and his political billboards |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-43985084 |website=BBC News |accessdate=12 February 2019 |date=19 May 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Schafter |first1=Monique |title=Priest addresses social issues in eyebrow-raising signs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-26/priest-addresses-social-issues-in-eyebrow-raising-signs/5698310 |website=ABC News |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en-AU |date=26 August 2014}}{{cite web |title=Australian priest on gun control: 'Thoughts and prayers are not enough' |url=https://honey.nine.com.au/2018/02/21/14/19/gosford-church-rod-bower-gun-control-billboard |website=9Honey |date=21 February 2018 |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en-AU}} Bower also supports abortion.{{cite web |title= Fr Rod Bower |url=https://twitter.com/tudorgrrrl/status/1056029272022761472 |accessdate=12 August 2019 |language=en |date= 26 October 2016 }} He says euthanasia should be considered{{cite web |title= Fr Rod Bower|url=https://twitter.com/FrBower/status/836168831353548800 |accessdate=12 August 2019 |language=en |date= 27 Feb 2017}} and that there is a need for illicit drug testing.{{cite web |title='Billboard priest' weighs in on festival drug deaths after conducting funeral of Alex Ross-King |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/father-rod-bower-weighs-in-on-pill-testing-debate/10770590 |accessdate=12 August 2019 |language=en |date=1 February 2019}}
He has stated his views have been inspired by the liberation theology proponent Dom Helder Camara.{{cite web |last1=Steger |first1=Jason |title=When I look at Jesus' message, it is a political message: Father Rod Bower |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/when-i-look-at-jesus-message-it-is-a-political-message-father-rod-bower-20181206-h18t91.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en |date=14 December 2018}}
Bower first began his activism in 2013 when he put up, "DEAR CHRISTIANS, SOME PPL ARE GAY. GET OVER IT. LOVE GOD" after delivering the last rites to a dying man whose family hid the man's partner due to fear of the church's stance on homosexuality. After an image of the sign became popular online, he continued using it as a method of activism. In 2014, he began participating in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras wearing his clerical attire.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Terry |title=Rainbow rector's marriage march |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/anglican-minister-father-rod-bower-to-march-in-sydney-mardi-gras-to-support-marriage-equality/news-story/8135bbb89593c0f3de2c408c9051a813 |accessdate=23 July 2019 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 February 2014 |language=en}}
Israel Folau quoted from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Bower says, "FOLAU IS WRONG, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM".{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/gosford-priest-hits-out-at-rugby-star-with-folau-is-wrong-sign-c-181056|title = Gosford priest hits out at Israel Folau with new church sign|date = 24 June 2019}} Bower, along with others, set up a GoFundMe page in response to one set up by Folau.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jwire.com.au/magda-szubanski-and-friends-launch-alternative-gofundme-forlove/|title = Magda Szubanski and friends launch alternative GoFundMe: ForLove|date = 26 June 2019}}
In 2017, Bower was criticised for a Gosford Anglican church sign, referring to Peter Dutton, the Australian immigration minister, which said, "DUTTON IS A SODOMITE".{{cite web |last1=Whitbourn |first1=Michaela |title=Anglican Priest Rod Bower brands Peter Dutton a 'Sodomite' in social media post |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/anglican-priest-rod-bower-brands-peter-dutton-a-sodomite-in-social-media-post-20170930-gyrtk5.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en |date=30 September 2017}} Bower stated he was referring to the biblical story of Sodom, which in his interpretation was "about hospitality, or more to the point lack thereof, and particularly about the condition of the heart that leads to inhospitable behaviour". However, there is an alternative Biblical explanation for the word 'sodomite'{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sodomite|title=Definition of SODOMITE}} from that articulated by Bower.{{cite web |url=https://caldronpool.com/fr-rod-bower-and-gosford-anglican-church-says-dutton-is-a-sodomite/amp/ |title=Fr Rod Bower and Gosford Anglican Church says: 'Dutton is a Sodomite' {{!}} Caldron Pool |website=caldronpool.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723211247/https://caldronpool.com/fr-rod-bower-and-gosford-anglican-church-says-dutton-is-a-sodomite/amp/ |archive-date=2019-07-23}} The assistant archbishop of Melbourne said the term Sodomite was, "a very personal slur on a government minister".{{cite news |last1=Whitbourn |first1=Michaela |title=Anglican Priest Rod Bower brands Peter Dutton a 'Sodomite' in social media post |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/anglican-priest-rod-bower-brands-peter-dutton-a-sodomite-in-social-media-post-20170930-gyrtk5.html |accessdate=23 July 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 September 2017 |language=en}}
In 2017, Bower chained himself to Kirribilli House to protest the Manus Island detention centres.{{cite web |title=Father Rod Bower among Manus protesters released after chaining themselves to Kirribilli House |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/father-rod-bower-among-manus-protesters-released-after-chaining-themselves-to-kirribilli-house |website=SBS News |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en}}
His controversial signs relating to multiculturalism and anti-nationalism has led to counter-demonstrations by right-wing groups. In 2016, The Party for Freedom interrupted his service clothed in Islamic dress to protest his "social justice agenda".{{cite web |last1=Karp |first1=Paul |title=Far-right protesters interrupt Anglican service clothed in mock Islamic dress |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/15/far-right-protesters-interrupt-anglican-service-clothed-in-mock-islamic-dress |website=The Guardian |accessdate=12 February 2019 |date=15 August 2016}} In April 2018, after putting up a sign stating "Lest we forget Manus & Nauru", he received a threat by a member of the Australian Defence Force that they would "set that church on fire".{{cite web |last1=Maley |first1=Jacqueline |title=Threat to church after Anzac Day message echoing Abdel-Magied's post |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/threat-to-church-after-anzac-day-message-echoing-abdel-magied-s-post-20180430-p4zcgg.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en |date=30 April 2018}} Later in the same year, a group interrupted the service wielding fake weaponry.{{cite web |last1=Hitchick |first1=Merran |title=Far-right activists who invaded mass would be charged with terrorism if Muslim, rector says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/21/far-right-activists-who-invaded-mass-would-be-charged-with-terrorism-if-muslim-rector-says |website=The Guardian |accessdate=12 February 2019 |date=21 May 2018}}
In 2016, Bower was criticised by Andrew Bolt for his relationship with the Grand Mufti of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, who had called homosexuality an "evil act".{{cite news |last1=Bolt |first1=Andrew |title=Priest defends in Islam what he attacks in Christians |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/priest-defends-in-islam-what-he-attacks-in-christians/news-story/f985504b08abdbb5746a86a62297e420 |work=Herald Sun |date=4 July 2016 |language=en}} In 2019, Bower was criticised by the Australian Jewish Association for comparing the Nauru processing centre to the Holocaust.{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Rick |title=Outspoken priest Rod Bower raises ire of Jewish groups |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/outspoken-priest-rod-bower-raises-ire-of-jewish-groups/news-story/dbaf0b7552af768f5dbd755baa3d4ea1 |website=The Australian |accessdate=12 February 2019}}
Political career
In 2018, Bower announced he would run in the 2019 federal election for a New South Wales senate seat "to give a voice to the marginalised".{{cite web |title=Father Rod chases Senate seat |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/anglican-rector-father-rod-bower-to-chase-senate-seat/news-story/b98a9e9c88973701ca31a68ba09fd5b1 |website=The Australian |accessdate=12 February 2019 |date=29 October 2018}} He has expressed an emphasis on policies surrounding "climate change, refugees and basic human rights".{{cite web |title=Outspoken Anglican rector Rod Bower announces Senate bid |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/outspoken-anglican-rector-rod-bower-announces-senate-bid |website=SBS News |accessdate=12 February 2019 |language=en}} Bower ran under the Independents For Climate Action Now party ticket in New South Wales, receiving only 0.6% of the vote and was not elected.{{cite news |title=Senate Results - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate |accessdate=23 July 2019 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Bibliography
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- Outspoken: Because Justice is Always Social (Sydney: Ebury Australia, 2018)
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