The Episcopal Church (USA) is no exception to the Law. I submit that all of the outward signs point to a draining from it of people and energy which at the moment is very much greater than what it is managing to attract to itself.
There is no glee to be had here, no Schadenfreude. I am an Episcopalian — a member of a Church that is in free fall, and whose current leadership is a disgrace, as they say, to the profession. Consider the fifty-year trend in its numbers, as vividly portrayed by Bishop FitzSimmons Allison in this brilliant analysis of what that leadership has done wrong — and continues to do wrong, as borne out by the latest figures. Consider the huge drain on its reserves caused by that leadership’s decisions to go to court wherever and whenever they think another parish (or diocese) must be sued for its property.
And last, but by no means least, consider the self-inflicted wounds caused by the Church’s deposition of more than 200 of its clergy in just the last eight years — every one of them unnecessary when simple letters dimissory would have sufficed. Add to this, now, the arrogant and lawless leadership of the Chief Kaitiff (for so I must call her when she acts in this way) — whose respect for the Church’s Canons is as non-existent as is her understanding of them.
That was a wonderful old Asimov story but I thought the answer to everything was “42”.
It does seem that as the spiritual enthalpy runs out of ECUSA and the entropy abounds there is yet one way for it to reverse to repentance. That would be for whoever will humble themself to say…
[b] Let God be God[/b]
What does Katiff mean?
Stefano, I’m afraid you’ve conflated Isaac Asimov with Douglas Adams. On the other hand, that’s not such a bad idea. Some of Asomov’s stories could use the addition of a Zaphod Beeblebrox.
Br_er, that was on purpose. It was meant as a joke but not in the ECUSA sense. Thinking of Asimov again puts me in mind of the “Foundation” series in that, like the Empire in the stories, the Episcopal Church may have already fallen but with so much inertia and money still keeping the corpse alive, it appears to be moving. And like the stories, the Empire of TEC attacks and exiles anyone who says so. Eventually in the story the Empire does fall away and the “faithful remnant” continues. Sound familiar?
BTW I have no idea what “Kaitiff” refers to either.
Thanks for the joke; I just thought Asimov could use a joke or two (I think Heinlein had a better sense of humor). And if it’s the Empire that falls away and the “faithful remnant” that continues, it must be ACNA that calls out back to them, “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”
I think I have it: Kate + Pontiff = Kaitiff.
But I can’t explain the spelling transmogrophy.
[[i]an elfen service to our readers: [url=https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=759178030677978044&postID=8895359707562060372]here’s Curmudgeon’s original explanation[/url] of his use of “Kaitiff”[/i]]