Is there a delicious irony in the plight of Anglo-Catholics in our day? Here is a body of Christians, taking seriously an offer from Rome. Why? Firstly (and most importantly) because we have long taught the Catechism and see Rome as our natural home, but also as an act of sincere protest at the direction of the Church of England is heading in. Our national church has become, to our Catholic eyes, totally corrupt as it waters down doctrine to appease secular thinking. It no longer affirms an orthodox faith but embraces a post-modern understanding of political correctness instead. That, more than any single issue, is something which we simply cannot tolerate in good conscience as Catholics in doctrine as well as practice.
In a strange twist of events then, those seeking to ‘go home to Rome’ do so as thoroughly modern ‘protestants’!!! Just as our forebears felt unable to tolerate the indulgences and excesses of Rome in the 16th Century, so we can no longer tolerate the indulgences and excessses of modern Anglicanism in the 21st Century! We protest! We rejoice in being ‘Protestants’!
Why? Because we no longer see any problem with Rome, it not only offers Mass in the venacular and makes scripture readily available, but it also stands up for the orthodox faith of Jesus Christ incarnate. Wheras we do see huge need for reform in a spiritually barren Anglicanism, in rapid decline as it seeks relevance over truth and values the experiences and feelings of man over the obedience of a revealed faith. For how could the desire of God ever trump the will of man when what Anglicans uphold is now decided by a show of hands in Synod?
Thus history repeats itself. The original gamekeepers have now become the poachers! They govern a church which is increasingly heterodox and unreliable. In this time of prayer we must look ahead with courage and also with joy! For we who protest, however difficult the road ahead may be, face the very real prospect of unity and reconciliation with the rock from which we were hewn. I pray that this may not only become reality but a movement leading to genuine unity for orthodox Christians throughout the world. That we may be ONE.
There can surely be only one issue for you to consider: Given the Vatican’s collusion in covering up the Irish child abuse scandal, do you really want to go ‘back to Rome’? Would you not feel ashamed in seeking to become part of a corrupt organisation that rather than condemning such gross criminal acts, is actually complicit in allowing the perpetrators to continue with them?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then I can only pity you (as I pity those who have suffered at the hands of so-called ‘men of god’.
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB09000504
I find the whole episode of child abuse in the church deeply upsetting and lamentable. It is totally unacceptable. However, just as I would not judge the game of rugby by Dean Richard’s poor behaviour- I shall not judge the RC church on the shameful behaviour of some evil men who hid within the ranks, nor the disgraceful bishops who sought to hide the grot and lacked the strenght or wisdom to deal with this. It still remains true that most abusers are married family men within the home and that, however foul these preists may have been, they represent a minority and stem from a time when much of society, and not just the RC church, dealt with such issues very, very badly. I am also well aware that the devil often strikes in places of holiness and that is why evil in the church never surprises me. But it does always upset me. In the ordinariate, if that IS where we end up, I shall be the first to demand that we take a 0 tolerance line on this issue as I have done at S. Barnabas since day one.
Not the devil, just sick men who hide behind the authority granted them by their absurd beliefs.
I think I have made my point clear and leave the matter now to your conscience. However, just remember the evils that are perpetrated in the name of religion next time you choose to attack Humanists.
Oh for goodness sake man stop whinging and just go if that’s what you want to do. You know you’ll be much happier, and your self-loathing of the Church you supposedly belong to is unedifying.
Your full acceptance and teaching of the RC Catechism necessarily means a rejection of Church of England teaching in key doctrinal areas, even discounting the whole area of female ordination (Papal jurisdiction and infallibility, Marian dogmas as necessary for salvation, the compulsory nature of private confession, etc., etc.). Can you really not see that you are not an Anglican and should stop claiming to be one, and the privileges you have in so doing. You fail to see the absurdity of your position. Newman and co. reached your point and had the integrity to do the right thing.
Why should the Church of England create a special space for those who not merely reject the ordination of women (which is an honourable position) but who claim allegiance to the Catechism of an entirely different part of the Church Catholic, and in so doing reject the teachings of the Church of England itself?
You claim the RC Church is doing what the CofE should be. It is not. The RC Church is not creating spaces where Anglicans are free to reject key areas of Roman doctrine. Neither should the Church of England create spaces where crypto-Romans can do the opposite.
And of course Woggler, no child has ever suffered at the hands of an Anglican, and no C of E Bishop has moved a priest on…. Sadly no community is whiter than white on this. At least, despite appalling failures in the past, the Catholic Church in England and Wales is now held up by the authorities as an exemplar in the excercise of Safeguarding.
Fr Ed. understanding the nuances, no one should become a Catholic as a protest…, but as a non conformist…!
I shall not do that because these evils were not done in the name of religion but against its clear teaching. Even if I did I would only do so if, in return, you consider the evils perpertrated by atheists….pol pot and Stalin would be good starting points. You might want to also assure me that no child abuse occurs within athiest households…
I have no doubt it does. The difference is, hopefully they will be duly punished by the law. The Irish priests in question were not, because the catholic authorities (including the evil Ratzinger) covered their crimes up.
As for Pol Pot and Stalin, their crimes were committed in the name of political ideologies, not religious ones.
On the basis that atheists often deny that atheism is a religion how could what Pol Pot and Stalin did ever be regarded as religious? Or are you Woggler arguing that atheism is a religion but that Pol Pot, Stalin were not actually guided by their lack of belief in God?
If one may permitted to get back to the point amid all the gratuitous squabbling that appears to be characteristic of this Blog, for many it is not either/or, it is ‘Shall I have a church in which to exercise my historic faith?’
Fr Ed makes a valid point so forgive me as an occasional reader who is unfamiliar with the depths of feelings on this particular pitch if I make a plea for those of us who simply wish to exercise their faith in the manner handed down from the Apostles and which binds us together in our profession of faith.
To deny us that is an insult to the One on whom our lives should be modelled.
Petros
I don’t know whether or not those Anglicans considering the ordinariate have chosen a Patron Saint for this period of discernment. If not could I suggest St Margaret Clitherow, she was a convert from Anglicanism. She is certainly an example of making sacrifices for her acceptance of Catholicism. There will be sacrifices for you but they won’t threaten to torture your children and then crush you to death (unless the ABC really has gone as macho as he appeared to be in Rome!)
Woggler said above: ‘As for Pol Pot and Stalin, their crimes were committed in the name of political ideologies, not religious ones.’
What on earth are you meaning to say by this – that these atheists who killed millions of people (and let’s add Herr Hitler to the list since he was not fan of God) are somehow more justified in their actions, than those wicked Christian priests who abused children, because they acted from political motives?
A lot of stone throwing. Hypocrisy is everywhere, and not just in the Vatican.
Sorry, I meant ‘religious’. And no, several million wrongs do not make a right. My original post was asking whether your church really wants to associate with an organisation that effectively condones child abuse by failing to take appropriate action. I know my conscience is clear, I only hope that yours is too.
would you also suggest every policeman quits as well, leaving Ireland lawless, because from my understanding they were just as culpable.
I think we need to accept that -tragically- the attitudes and understanding of previous generations was deplorable accross the board. The 4% of Catholic priests who abused have let the whole church and world down and that is an utter disgrace. Of this 4% less than 1% of all the abuse was actually carried out on children- not that abusing teens is any better. But it helps tro understand what we are dealing with here. I would be interested to look at teaching statistics or those for boy scouts? Strikes me that all professions where there is access to children and youth will always need to be on their guard. But again would you close all schools Woggler- and ask if those associated with them feel due guilt? It is a strange argument you use and seems to be saying ‘look at this grot- I can beat you with it, regardless of how unfair that may be’