I'm am astonished that Fr Keith Newton, the ordinary of the subordinariate, whilst seeking to avoid any “rancour or bad feeling” between Anglicans and those who swim the Tiber hopes that the swimmers me be able to share properties with the Church of England in “specific places”.
He says that, “It obviously depends on the numbers who are going from that congregation. We do not want any rancour or bad feeling. I would hope that there is a possibility of some ordinariate groups sharing a church which they have used before but we will have to look at these on an individual basis.”
One press report (Catholic) says that this is a gesture towards 'Church Unity'. I have to perhaps offer a suggestion and another gesture.
The suggestion is that it is bordering on the ridiculous to leave a church building, possibly taking some of the sheep with you, for another denomination and then hope to be able to use that same building (or another from the very same firm you have separated yourself from) as a venue. To position this as a move that will foster ecumenical relations is duplicitous, stupid, stark-raving bonkers when all they needed for unity in that building was to stay and preach the Gospel.
Mind you, it could catch on. Tamworth doesn't have a Tesco's, perhaps Sainbury's could let them have some of their venue for this is as absurd as that which Fr Newton seeks! We are not in competition, but we do have two very different denominations and two very different sets of core beliefs (Articles of the thirty-nine kind! and theology of the reformed to add to the catholicity aspects). Speaks volumes about the subordinariate - they have buildings at their disposal don't they? Or could it be that the Roman Catholic Parish Priests are that keen to house the cross-breed structure either?
And the gesture?
I'm far to polite to use it!
Let's hope that the pointyheads aren't!
Pax
3 comments:
I think you will find that Church history shows the majority of the Church of England's buildings were stolen by Rome when it decided to abandon its faith under Henry VIII.
Ordinariate? Didn't ask for it. Don't want it.
View from a Catholic in Discernment
This appears a little like building an extension to your porch so that you can have friends who don't like your taste in decorating over to visit. This way they don't have to come the full way in and see things that might challenge them.
Any ordained minister coming over has had years in which to compare theology and doctorine.
The two camps share fundemental truths but also vary in key aspects of doctorine and the theology behind them.
The point being - how can a vicar coming over to the Ordinariate have any credability as a teacher when it they haven't taken the opportunity to go the full way and convert to Rome
This conversion naturally based on a conviction that the Catholic doctorine is right after all etc
(Something that could have been done at any time and doesn't require a special 'enclave' within the church)
Instead of this said minister would leave the CofE and join the Ordinariate thus giving the appearance of coming to Rome grudgingly and only then because they are unable to reconcile themselves with what the CofE has done recently [Insert topic here].
Why not go the whole way and form a new denomination. We could call it "Catholic Lite" or "Slightly Higher Anglican" or even "The English Church of Rome".
At least that way those of us who do fully believe in the doctorines of our respective orders can be left alone to get on with living our or respective faiths (James 2) whilst those who want to waver have somewhere to be whilst they dust off their theology books and try to decide if "The Real Prescence" in the Eucharist can be administered by a "Woman Bishop" after saying the "Hail Mary" at a "Gay Wedding".
And for my next trick we can discuss the desire for strong religious teaching and direction in modern society as an alternative to drifting secularism - It'll be fun. Buy tickets now.
Note: Said with tounge in cheek BUT some definite grinding of teeth going on as well.
I am in the same mind as you.
I find the whole issue of the ordinariate to be hollow and the half-way house that it presents must now be the via media between the via media that is Anglicanism!
It's a tad nearer Rome but not properly Rome and therefore (ironically) less Roman or Anglican that their previously held position!
To be admitted as a 'special case' illuminates them in the same light that makes 'special education' special too!
Niether fish not fowl and yet perhaps as foul and smelly (and I don't mean incense).
I understand the place of the tongue and the grinding noise all too well!
Pax
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