Today’s sermon as requested…

What a week! First a media whirlwind in which I became a one day sensation. Words were taken from my blog and twisted, meaning a measured story questioning the impact of secularisation on death (not a good headline) became ‘vicar attacks mourners!’ (a fantastic headline!) Never let the truth get in the way of a story! It was all, of course, a storm in a teacup but at least it got people talking. Indeed it promoted A N Wilson to write a superb article which touched on the spiritual void that lies at the heart of secular Britain.

But that isn’t what I want to talk about this morning. Because I was knocked off the front pages (well middle pages) by (possibly) the most significant religious development since the reformation. I refer to the pope’s incredible act of generosity in seeking to reach out to orthodox Catholic Anglicans and offer us sanctuary and structural provision, something our own church, to its shame, has so far refused to provide for us!
At this moment only one thing can be said with certainty. Anglo-Catholicism will never be the same again. Together then, whether we like it or not, we are being called by God to face our future. Where does it lie?
Let me rewind! How did we get to this point. The Church of England never embraced the reformation fully. It neither become fully protestant, like the Lutherans, nor remained in the Roman Catholic fold. Instead it tried to being both protestant yet Catholic, a brave experiment which only hit the rocks in recent time.
It worked when Britain was Christian. A church built on a Catholic model, with bishop, priest and deacon- teaching the faith of the ages. But it had a fatal flaw, one which has only come to light in recent time. Anglicanism lacked a majesterium, a teaching office to ensure the faith is protected and taught the same way in all its churches. Something to ensure that, regardless of churchmanship, we all understand what the bible teaches.
Fast forward to today and the church is a pickle of different beliefs and opinions. And, now battered by liberalism, the once glorious ship is undeniably sinking beneath the waves of secularization. As the nation has grown increasingly permissive so has Anglicanism. Its abandoned its faith in many places and lost its integrity. Facts which break my heart because- in all honesty- I dearly love the Anglican church.
Although I am worried that the church I love, which raised me and taught me the Catholic faith, no longer really exists. In the last twenty years it has changed beyond recognition, the BCP is nowhere to be seen. And just let us pause to reflect on some of the intolerable truths that have so hurt those who are authentically Catholic.
Recently I discovered some tracts written by a priest denying Jesus resurrection, virgin birth and which referred to the mass as repugnant. Despite bringing this to the attention of the bishop involved- nothing has been done. Clearly then; what is preached in the name of Jesus no longer matters. Surely, to anyone who takes the faith seriously, this is intolerable.
Or consider Gene Robinson. I am certain he is quite a nice chap, he would be welcome to worship here. But how can a man who divorced his wife and entered a sexual relationship with his boyfriend be chosen as a bishop in God’s church? To anyone who stands by Christian teaching on the family and sexual ethics, this is intolerable.
We might think of the Catholic understanding of holy orders which were damaged to appease politically correctness. I refer to the ordination of women. An innovation that denies the biblical truth of ‘equal but different’ within God’s creation. Now this need not have been intolerable. We who disagree have actually worked hard to make it work. And of course many women priests, despite my doubting their sacramental ability, do good work for the church.
But now consider the way that opponents have been treated, this is the intolerable part. In America they slashed their mission budget to fund litigation against orthodox priests. In Wales they went back on promises, withdrew the flying bishops and simply told traditionalists, ‘put up or shut up’. I could go on and on….
So why, when the Church is abandoning the faith, am I still here? Firstly because I do, despite everything, love this church. Parts of it are wonderful and I have hoped it might sort itself out.
The Daily Telegraph misquoted me today. I said at a meeting in London, that Anglicanism is sinking and therefore, when the Pope sends lifeboats, it would be suicidal not take his offer seriously! They translated that, I am leaving for Rome! Well bad luck! I am going nowhere!
I do not, you see, believe in ‘escape’- to simply convert for myself. Furthermore I want to worship here and not in a modern Roman Church. And, as a priest, I would never abandon my flock when wolves are calling! So you are stuck with me for now.
Bu that does not mean I have not been worried or tempted. Last July was a turning point for me. General Synod made it abundantly clear that we Catholics are not only unwanted – we are unloved. Those who oppose us believe it a ‘justice issue’ to eradicate us. Hence our every single request was refused. They even took a hard hearted vote stating our expression of faith is no longer authentic. It hurt. And it continues to hurt when I note how the revision committee are being slammed for trying to make us more generous provision. Very clearly there are many who hate us. Why I cannot say?
At that July Synod, I saw with clarity that our long term future was bleak, unless we would sell our beliefs down the river and put up with non biblical revelation. Promises made sincerely, when women were ordained, were now broken. An act of betrayal that left me in tears.
Since then, against ALL hope, Anglo-Catholics have prayed, not for escape, (though a few have left) but for exodus. A chance to find sanctuary, with our people. Space in which to serve the Lord with integrity, according to our Catholic practices and without risk of persecution. In my heart I feared it was a fools dream. How lonely might I become as years go by? Would I become, to pinch a phrase from the Fast show, the only Catholic in the village?
Be careful what you pray for – because God might answer. This week perhaps he did. Through his servant Pope Benedict, he pointed at churches like ours and proclaimed them valid, true and deserving of preservation. The Pope wants to grant us life where Synod seeks our death.
The plan, and it is just that at present, is to allow whole congregations to keep their Anglican patrimony and identity, to say Mass as we do at present, to stay (we would hope) in our buildings (though already people are wanting to refuse this) and simply transfer jurisdiction to Rome not Canterbury.
This is not poaching but a response to the cries of persecuted Anglo-Catholics in an increasingly liberal church. An opportunity to stay as we are, nothing would change here, save the office to whom I make my oath…but lets not get ahead of ourselves. And do we want this anyway? I really do not know!
Some might rejoice, others hate it, all will feel bewildered and anxious. We don’t yet know how the Church of England will react. Will they grasp this opportunity which allows them to pursue women bishops? Or will they play Pharaoh, holding back the exodus? Or will this wake them up to their shoddy treatment of us and start loving us and granting us life?
And what of the details from Rome? What of money, schools, buildings? Nobody knows- and that is precisely why nobody can make any decisions- one way or another, regardless of what the Telegraph might think! It is going to take years not months or days is my guess, so it is NOT time to panic.
However I am a little excited because I see the Holy Spirit at work in this. And, even if we eventually decided it is not for us, we MUST take the popes offer seriously. After all when did we last feel understood, valued and wanted?
Thus I call on this congregation to enter a period of profound prayer and fasting. Vigils need to be held. I want us to give up meat on Fridays in the run up to Christmas. Opportunity for discussion will be made. We will move slowly and sensibly and we will wait on the Lord. We must pray to Christ our future.
Much is yet to be revealed. But we cannot pretend this week does not have far reaching consequences. Can synod deliver and having behaved badly and broken promises can they regain our trust? Can Rome offer us something different instead, a way to be Anglican in identity but Roman in authority? With God’s help we must consider all the possibilities before us.