I was deeply shocked at (what I took to be) a vitriolic and ungracious blog entry from the Bishop of Buckingham (see post below for full story). Thus I felt compelled to write a comment on his blog. For the record I quite agree with his disdain of the fanatical Bishop of the breakaway SSPX church- what I lament is his implied belief that all who refer to themselves as Catholic are on the same path to ruin…what ripe and how offensive! This is what my comment said:
Dear Bishop,
I myself was aghast reading this. Why? Firstly because it does not demonstrate either love or understanding – qualities which a Bishop ought to have…even towards +Williamson. Secondly because you qualify who these ‘dangerous and extreme’ Catholics are ‘as those who use the word Catholic as a style descriptor or brand name’.
That sounds to me like anyone who calls themselves ‘Catholic’ – which is me! I call myself Catholic and I was offended and outraged. I wonder how those poor seminarians at Massinformation felt? Surely as a Bishop you should be encouraging Anglo-Catholic vocations and not ripping into all and any who define themselves in that way?
I also ask how a Bishop can hold office whilst being so deeply ignorant of true Anglo-Catholicism, as becomes clear within your following comments. Little wonder Synod serves us so poorly. I am also saddened that your comments demonstrate an inability to say sorry. It smacks of all the self assurance one sees in that very dangerous cleric +Williamson- and I suggest it is his love of self – rather than his preference of tradition- which leads to his utter shame and downfall.
You may have had offers already- but feel free to visit me in Tunbridge Wells- where our Eastwood facing, biretta wearing, Forward in Faith parish- has more than doubled its congregation in under 5 years- grown a Sunday School of close to 30- and is catering to a rich and diverse people. We even have men in their forties- almost unheard of in the C of E I am told! We have rcently worked with the Diocese and local community to open a preschool in recent months and are raising substantial funds to build a community centre in this very poor area of town.
Do email me to arrange a visit if you find the time, you would be made most welcome. And please remember that most Anglo-Catholics work in some of the most deprived parishes in this land. They are already low in spirits surviving in a church which clearly holds them in very little regard… were you my own Bishop, making comments like these, I would feel utterly betrayed. Something for reflection perhaps? I say this as a fellow sinner who is oft guilty of speaking too quickly and without thought.
Fr. Ed Tomlinson SSC
The bishop has, to his credit, responded thus:
Dear Fr Ed,
Thank you very much for helping the discussion forward. I had not considered, and should have, the use of the word Catholic in the first para. I understand myself to be self-identifying as Catholic every time I say the creed. But not everybody uses the word that way.
I am very sorry to have missed that dimension in my anger about holocaust denial, and to have said something so plainly wounding to you and the othrs you mentioned. I am most grateful to you for pointing this out.
Please be assured I’m not on synod! I would like to take you up on your kind offer, because the present partition arrangements in the C of E hardly promote the kind of ordinary praying together and being together that might be a sounder basis for working out our differences than simply discussing them in the abstract, and/or politically.
There are a few petitioning parishes in Bucks, and, although it would be invidious to single any out, some are greatly flourishing. I would, however value spending time with you, in order to learn about the grassroots of a gathered traditionalist parish (ours are rural and market town, and I am in a different relationship to people I meet around them than simply an enquiring guest). Show me around, perhaps, during a day incognito, as you might a prospective curate?
I was touched by Andrew Teather’s offer above, but didn’t know he wasn’t already ordained when I took him up on it. It instantly seemed like a good idea, and certainly as valuable as some of the more abstract CME that goes on. I think it would be better and more tactful all round not to go to Manchester.
I’ll contact you directly.
Kind regards,
+Alan
So then we look forward to welcoming +Alan to S. Barnabas. I only hope and pray that it helps him to better see the valuable contribution made by Anglo-Catholics in the Church at large. I further hope it helps him to cater better to those faithful High churchmen in his own Diocese. He really ought to know that hateful attitudes (such as exhibited by the holocaust denying +Williamson) arise from hard and selfish hearts set apart from God and not from tradition or churchmanship. High, middle and low have all got a fair share of shams and genuine faithful. That is my belief in any case!
Finally I find his comments in his reply of a ‘partitioned church’ somewhat confusing. Does he really not pray with Christians of all traditions in Oxford Diocese? Perhaps he should speak to Rochester for some guidance and advice…for we are superbly led and ALL shared together at the Conference last week. That included flying Bishops, high, low and middle….
