It wasn't that long ago a certain Anglican organisation voted to give a large sum to the Ordinariate causing a fair degree of (rightly placed) criticism. Seems that another dose of inordinate dodginess is to be found within the dealings of a PCC which gave their ordinariate bound dog-collar a £3k 'leaving gift' and then resigned their memberships to follow him!!
I continue to be amazed (and depressed) at the degree of duplicity and dodginess of many who have left for the Elysian fields of Rome. Mind you, perhaps I shouldn't be, seems to be one of their enduring hallmarks :(
Meanwhile, others remain with their integrity and maintain their call ;)
Pax
Showing posts with label ordinariate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ordinariate. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Hockley to Rome
I see that Fr Jeff Woulnough has of course swum the Tiber and therefore the real angst wasn't that he was making an ass of him and me, but that he just hadn't told anyone that it was a done deal, and had his decision brought into the light before he'd told his bishop and parishoners.
Seems that my initial thoughts were correct and so, as I wish him and his family well as they continue their personal pilgrimage, with him and the others who leave today have to say that I hope that there will remain within our church a number of people willing to remain faithful to their calling and maintain the catholicity of our church.
+ For those who have contacted me to berate me for assuming that Fr Woolnough was going when he obviously wasn't.
+ For those who considered my posts to be nothing more than opinionated railing against the 'True Church' and the 'faithful'.
+ To those who have told me that I was not a true priest because of my 'anti-roman' views.
I think the realities speak for themselves in the words of +Brentwood, in the posturing of some and the triumphalism of others and most of all in the facts before us. I reported truly and honestly (something that some going might take time to learn) and remain, as I am, an Anglican Priest who is committed to ecumenical realities and willing to dialogue with those with whom I disagree.
Opinionated? Probably, but then I am in a denomination which, at least for now, permits differing opinions. Merely a 'Minister' - no,sorry Jeff, a Priest, an Anglican Priest who remains true to the promises and oaths that I took upon ordination because having been called, here I stand, for I can do none other!
The Ordinariate is too soon and too fuzzy and I fear that some will come to rue this day.
You can read Woolnough's parting wordshere and also find Fr. Lee Bennett's here.
A sad loss of some very good PPs and one which, in my opinion, rather than make a stand for that which is right joins with those others who wish us anything but well and will result in our having greater difficulties in terms of identity.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen and goodbye to all of the swimming class. I truly hope and pray that they will find what they desire in Rome and that they know God's blessing on them.
Pray also that the communities who see their PPs leave will find shepherds who will provide continuity of care, a sound Gospel and possess a pastoral heart - may God be with them as they prepare to continue without some of their numbers and may friendships be maintained.
Pray that we will see this as nothing more than the loss of a few and pray that we will see more orthodox and traditional believers sensing a calling within our ranks.
Pax
Seems that my initial thoughts were correct and so, as I wish him and his family well as they continue their personal pilgrimage, with him and the others who leave today have to say that I hope that there will remain within our church a number of people willing to remain faithful to their calling and maintain the catholicity of our church.
+ For those who have contacted me to berate me for assuming that Fr Woolnough was going when he obviously wasn't.
+ For those who considered my posts to be nothing more than opinionated railing against the 'True Church' and the 'faithful'.
+ To those who have told me that I was not a true priest because of my 'anti-roman' views.
I think the realities speak for themselves in the words of +Brentwood, in the posturing of some and the triumphalism of others and most of all in the facts before us. I reported truly and honestly (something that some going might take time to learn) and remain, as I am, an Anglican Priest who is committed to ecumenical realities and willing to dialogue with those with whom I disagree.
Opinionated? Probably, but then I am in a denomination which, at least for now, permits differing opinions. Merely a 'Minister' - no,sorry Jeff, a Priest, an Anglican Priest who remains true to the promises and oaths that I took upon ordination because having been called, here I stand, for I can do none other!
The Ordinariate is too soon and too fuzzy and I fear that some will come to rue this day.
You can read Woolnough's parting wordshere and also find Fr. Lee Bennett's here.
A sad loss of some very good PPs and one which, in my opinion, rather than make a stand for that which is right joins with those others who wish us anything but well and will result in our having greater difficulties in terms of identity.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen and goodbye to all of the swimming class. I truly hope and pray that they will find what they desire in Rome and that they know God's blessing on them.
Pray also that the communities who see their PPs leave will find shepherds who will provide continuity of care, a sound Gospel and possess a pastoral heart - may God be with them as they prepare to continue without some of their numbers and may friendships be maintained.
Pray that we will see this as nothing more than the loss of a few and pray that we will see more orthodox and traditional believers sensing a calling within our ranks.
Pax
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Into the Ordinary . .
I was taken to task recently by one of the priests who had been hinted at as being about to swim the Tiber by the RC bishop of Brentwood (Rt Rev Thomas McMahon). Using the good old standby of 'assume makes an ass of u and me" I was told by this 'priest' that I as a 'minister' should be in possession of all the facts before I published them on my 'opinionated blog' (hooray, I have another label for my collection) and that I didn't know the half of it.
Well of course I don't and I can understand that to be pointed out as one who had been in talks or had been assumed to have been one of those embarking on swimming lessons by +Brentwood must have been rather frustrating and perhaps a little too revealing. That said, when speaking of the bishop's revelations, the 'priest' in question did say in a newspaper article that the bishop's announcement was 'premature' which presumes that, like pregnancy, it is a reality that was there before its time! So it was appear that the act is either set, or has been talked about, but the time was not then. Perhaps he hadn't spoken to his bishop (Anglican) about it before the naughty brentwood went off and fired the starting pistol and so was caught perhaps a little infragrente dilecto!
Anyway, from one Priest to another I do wish him well if he does swim and if he decides not to, making +Brentwood's assumptionsg wrong, to enjoy his presence helping us maintain the catholicity of the Church of England and work the Gospel to those around us.
Still, with no assumptions at all I read today of those who had indeed swum and turn my attention to the parish of St John the Baptist, Sevenoaks, who are sending forty members and two clergy off to Rome.
The first person to be quoted is a lady who makes some interesting comments about the general direction the CofE is taking and says "I abhor abortion and euthanasia, I'm pro-life and I think the Anglican church can be very wishy-washy about this.". Many of those engaged in the pro-life ministry are Anglicans and it is a fallacy to assume that the CofE is not generally pro-life so if this was the reason to leave I'd say it was on a wrong assumption. But, (always a but isn't there?) speaking of her church she says, "When I came to St John's I thought, 'This is for me,' says Mrs Vaughan. "I love the solemnity, the ritual, the theatricality - but that was leading me on to be prayerful." I can't fault her for swimming if this is what she's after, she will find lots of that and she's going as a crowd which makes the transition better. I would query the prayerfulness, for it seems that bible knowledge, prayer and other aspects don't feature as high on the agenda of many of the high-church types I know. It's ritual and the theatre that is church that is the key focus (and that come from me who is apparently a bit of a 'closet tat queen'!!).
The parish priest says that the problems with the church are deeper than the issue of women priests and syas that, "Under the bondage of the whims of the General Synod, the Church of England is diluting the Gospel of Christ and espousing the spirit of this passing age." These are thoughts that many, regardless of churchmanship will echo and support.
From passing conversations I think that his views on the ordinariate not being an 'elite' are correct and hope it it not so, but think they will find themselves in a situation that will make them an oddity if not the ghetto many fear.
A third voice says that "Changes he finds unacceptable are gathering pace in the Anglican church. The slippery slope is getting steeper and steeper all the time... I think it's a process which is far too developed now to stop its momentum." Now I would again plead that those who have problems make a stand and use their voices and their knees rather than go.
The man is obviously balanced and as he speaks of those who endorse the changes he cannot, says, "One retains warmth of feeling towards fellow Christians but I can't escape the conclusion that in those respects, they are mistaken. I don't think that's a reason for enmity, though."
But I think he sums up the position for many who have left (or are considering it), especially when there are a few from one congregation: "It's far more comfortable doing this in a group." But he sees what I feel will be the reality for the ordinariate when he says that the time will come when it says, "Maybe we are reaching the end of our useful life and we should just dissolve into the Roman Church."
And again, there is a healthy dose of realism in that, "We go there retaining elements of Anglicanism but... you do risk being a sort of rump group, sustaining itself for the sake of sustaining itself."
So there you have it, some balance and some indication from those who have acted as they feel led and swum. Those of us who are remaining do so with sadness at their leaving (well, for the most part) and pray that they will find that which they seek.
My sadness came when I read the account of the curate who has decided to join the ordinariate and to be celibate. My sadness is not that he is going but that he has chosen not to take up ministry as a full and proper Catholic priest but stay with the ordinariate. If Rome is his true home then why, I wonder, does he choose not to fully embrace it? Obviously many of those considering (or going) are married and so can through the ordinariate have their marital rights and the comfort of a Catholic home, but for those who are unmarried it still seems to me to be an odd move.
The final word goes to one of the parishioners who has chosen to remain Anglican:
On the Ordinariate: "A common response is that this is too soon, because we're half-way through a legislative process, the end of which we do not know."
On women bishops (and inadequate f[provision for those who oppose the move): "All hell will be let loose. Some opponents will join the Roman Catholics direct, not bothering with the Ordinariate!"
Of those who have left: "For them it is the right decision. It should be respected. They should be congratulated on their decision and I wish them all the best in the next stage of their pilgrimage."
Amen to that.
Well of course I don't and I can understand that to be pointed out as one who had been in talks or had been assumed to have been one of those embarking on swimming lessons by +Brentwood must have been rather frustrating and perhaps a little too revealing. That said, when speaking of the bishop's revelations, the 'priest' in question did say in a newspaper article that the bishop's announcement was 'premature' which presumes that, like pregnancy, it is a reality that was there before its time! So it was appear that the act is either set, or has been talked about, but the time was not then. Perhaps he hadn't spoken to his bishop (Anglican) about it before the naughty brentwood went off and fired the starting pistol and so was caught perhaps a little infragrente dilecto!
Anyway, from one Priest to another I do wish him well if he does swim and if he decides not to, making +Brentwood's assumptionsg wrong, to enjoy his presence helping us maintain the catholicity of the Church of England and work the Gospel to those around us.
Still, with no assumptions at all I read today of those who had indeed swum and turn my attention to the parish of St John the Baptist, Sevenoaks, who are sending forty members and two clergy off to Rome.
The first person to be quoted is a lady who makes some interesting comments about the general direction the CofE is taking and says "I abhor abortion and euthanasia, I'm pro-life and I think the Anglican church can be very wishy-washy about this.". Many of those engaged in the pro-life ministry are Anglicans and it is a fallacy to assume that the CofE is not generally pro-life so if this was the reason to leave I'd say it was on a wrong assumption. But, (always a but isn't there?) speaking of her church she says, "When I came to St John's I thought, 'This is for me,' says Mrs Vaughan. "I love the solemnity, the ritual, the theatricality - but that was leading me on to be prayerful." I can't fault her for swimming if this is what she's after, she will find lots of that and she's going as a crowd which makes the transition better. I would query the prayerfulness, for it seems that bible knowledge, prayer and other aspects don't feature as high on the agenda of many of the high-church types I know. It's ritual and the theatre that is church that is the key focus (and that come from me who is apparently a bit of a 'closet tat queen'!!).
The parish priest says that the problems with the church are deeper than the issue of women priests and syas that, "Under the bondage of the whims of the General Synod, the Church of England is diluting the Gospel of Christ and espousing the spirit of this passing age." These are thoughts that many, regardless of churchmanship will echo and support.
From passing conversations I think that his views on the ordinariate not being an 'elite' are correct and hope it it not so, but think they will find themselves in a situation that will make them an oddity if not the ghetto many fear.
A third voice says that "Changes he finds unacceptable are gathering pace in the Anglican church. The slippery slope is getting steeper and steeper all the time... I think it's a process which is far too developed now to stop its momentum." Now I would again plead that those who have problems make a stand and use their voices and their knees rather than go.
The man is obviously balanced and as he speaks of those who endorse the changes he cannot, says, "One retains warmth of feeling towards fellow Christians but I can't escape the conclusion that in those respects, they are mistaken. I don't think that's a reason for enmity, though."
But I think he sums up the position for many who have left (or are considering it), especially when there are a few from one congregation: "It's far more comfortable doing this in a group." But he sees what I feel will be the reality for the ordinariate when he says that the time will come when it says, "Maybe we are reaching the end of our useful life and we should just dissolve into the Roman Church."
And again, there is a healthy dose of realism in that, "We go there retaining elements of Anglicanism but... you do risk being a sort of rump group, sustaining itself for the sake of sustaining itself."
So there you have it, some balance and some indication from those who have acted as they feel led and swum. Those of us who are remaining do so with sadness at their leaving (well, for the most part) and pray that they will find that which they seek.
My sadness came when I read the account of the curate who has decided to join the ordinariate and to be celibate. My sadness is not that he is going but that he has chosen not to take up ministry as a full and proper Catholic priest but stay with the ordinariate. If Rome is his true home then why, I wonder, does he choose not to fully embrace it? Obviously many of those considering (or going) are married and so can through the ordinariate have their marital rights and the comfort of a Catholic home, but for those who are unmarried it still seems to me to be an odd move.
The final word goes to one of the parishioners who has chosen to remain Anglican:
On the Ordinariate: "A common response is that this is too soon, because we're half-way through a legislative process, the end of which we do not know."
On women bishops (and inadequate f[provision for those who oppose the move): "All hell will be let loose. Some opponents will join the Roman Catholics direct, not bothering with the Ordinariate!"
Of those who have left: "For them it is the right decision. It should be respected. They should be congratulated on their decision and I wish them all the best in the next stage of their pilgrimage."
Amen to that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)