Comments on: As we ponder….

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:03:14 +0000

Rod, had the Pope consulted the ABC and his own bishops, nothing would have happened and he would of course be aware of that fact. It seems clear that he intervened personally to ensure that this initiative was not discussed inconclusively for decades, an outcome that might have suited all parties perfectly except, of course, the people who actually needed an urgent decision.

By: Rod

Rod — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:31:01 +0000

Fr Ed, on some levels I can understand your enthusiasm for the Roman proposal, but a reality check is badly needed. You keep telling us that the Pope has “reached out in love”, which he may well have done, but this rhetoric ignores the potential pitfalls, of which there are many.

The RC Church which you are urging your congregation and others to join is the most conservative and reactionary in living memory. Much has been made of the ordinariates being allowed to retain some sort of Anglican “identity”, but they will also be enclosures in which other Anglican habits (such as married clergy) are kept at arm’s length from the wider RC Church.

Once there, former Anglicans will be subject to the same discipline as other Roman Catholics. Will there be any role for lay people in the new structure? I doubt it.

Rome’s tactics in introducing these new structures have been pretty shoddy, but the Archbishop of Canterbury is in good company – the Roman Catholic bishops were not consulted either.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:32:30 +0000

Timotheus – your words are wise!

IanG- I hear what you say brother and applaud your desire for us to hold together. The trouble is we have asked the house of bishops & synod, again and again and again, for a way to hold together. We have been ignored and treated shoddily.

Now the Pope offers exactly what Synod proclaimed impossible. To ignore a trustworthy offer of sanctuary within an authentically Catholic body -in favour of hoping with fingers crossed from the margins of a secularised church that no longer wants us and is even lobbying parliament to dismiss us on quality grounds is, in my opinion, a no brainer. Perhaps ALL Anglo-Catholics SHOULD hold together by accepting together a new and vibrant future?

That said I am committed to a process of reflection and am willing to listen to all sides and the response of the C of E. That response has thus far been feeble if not totally lacking, save a grumbling at Rome’s tactics and a feeble sermon from an Archbishop admiting we face chaos and uncertainty.- Sheesh that made me want to stay!!

By: IanG

IanG — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:14:40 +0000

I think there was a real opportunity for Anglo Catholics to come together collectively, draw breath and ask the question: what are we for and is there any way we can unite before taking decisions regarding the Anglican and Roman Catholic “offers”? I see that the TAC is now preparing to move on so I think the chance has probably been and gone. A pity because there is now just a choice between Canterbury and Rome and the certainty of a rather saddening split in our ranks.

By: timotheus

timotheus — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:22:31 +0000

As an Anglo Catholic myself, I can say that it does not take too much discernment to see where God is calling us. God calls us towards TRUTH not opinions or anti-orthodox views. Again, it doesn’t take alot of prayer when truth is in plain sight. What it takes is courage and faith to make the move. To try to convince oneself to stay and fight is an “excuse” to NOT walk by faith and enter the Ark of Peter!

Timotheus

By: Victor

Victor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:34:59 +0000

Thinking of you and your church at this crossroads. Has the C of E clarified where churches stand in terms of buildings and facilities? Surely this is the major stumbling block.

By: Pageantmaster

Pageantmaster — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:06:22 +0000

Well I will pray for you all at this time. There is a great deal of pressure on the Church of England and sometimes it is helpful to put one’s point of view forcefully, and then, to stand. All information from the Covenant and the Review Committee seems to have been closed down at the moment, you can hear a pin drop. Who will blink first do you think? One thing I can tell you, bolting for the door will be seen with glee by some unfriendly eyes. Time for the Church of England to behave like Christians. I would love to be a fly on the wall in Rome next week as the ABC meets up with the Pope.

And at the end of the day it seems to me that St Barnabas is doing a wonderful job of being something the church can be proud of. What could be better?

God bless.

By: Edwin

Edwin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:21:38 +0000

Well said, Fr Ed. There have been too many rushes to judgment in blogs and other statements. This is a time above all for prayer, and for talking among friends. Thanks.