An Anglican ordination scheduled to take place in a Roman Catholic church in rural Australia was moved at short notice to a Protestant church because the Vatican refused to have women ordained in a Catholic building.
Originally, Catholic Bishop Joseph Grech of the diocese of Sandhurst had given permission for the Anglican bishop of Bendigo, Andrew Curnow, to ordain seven candidates in St Killian’s Catholic Church on 29 November due to the closure of the local Anglican cathedral on safety grounds.
But when it was discovered that four of those to be ordained were women, Rome vetoed the local leadership saying the ordinations could not take place within the Catholic building, even though it was an Anglican service.
Curious. I don’t see why they would have allowed this at all seeing as how Rome does not recognize the validity of Anglican Orders.
Nevertheless its their church and their rules.
There’s always been a degree of accommodation since Vatican II days. My own studies of [url=http://www.amazon.com/Road-Renewal-Oklahoma-Catholicism-1905-1971/dp/0813215072/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246112671&sr=8-6]Oklahoma[/url] reveal a high degree of sympathy between the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma (in the days when it was a traditional high church bastion) and the then Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Sharing sacred space was one way to demonstrate that affinity.
Apparently the Romans aren’t buying the ABC’s fiat about women’s ordination in any shape, way, or form. They must not have been listening to his talk in Rome. “Avoid the very appearance….”
Jeremy, you are correct. As an TEC priest, I have celebrated the Eucharist at a Roman altar. It was a case of supplying for a TEC mission sharing the altar of the local Roman parish.
The interesting thing is that apparently some Romans didn’t understand the difference between the two Masses and attended and received communion at the TEC service. Which sort of confusion might well be why the Roman Church in Australia refused to allow the Anglican ordination of a woman. Some Romans might have shown up at the service wondering why a woman was being ordained.
Why the umbrage and indignation? Might as well have been a homosexual wedding or (several to choose from here) any other Anglican affront to the Church Catholic. Good on them I say and thank you.
Geesh!
Intercessor
Was the local RC bishop aware that there were women being ordained when he granted permission? Or was particular information withheld from him when he received the request?
The TEC Bp. of Montana was consecrated in the RC Cathedral of the Diocese of Western Montana. I think the history of sharing spaces is wonderful and the withdrawal of the allowance in this case is entirely appropriate given the differing beliefs. No stones to cast either way, unless information was intentionally withheld (which seems unlikely).
Br. Michael. Or alternatively, given that they consider ALL Anglican orders invalid, why they would care about women per se. I think however, as per the statements made by the Vatican when the Anglicans first started ordaining women, they consider some invalid ordinations more invalid than other invalid ordinations. 🙂
I think a fine distinction has to be made here. I do believe that the Catholic Church DOES recognize the validity of Episcopal/Anglican ordinations within the Anglican communion as that communion defines the meaning of ordination within itself and its mission to its people. But my sense is that in the Catholic view of ordained ministry to the presbyerate there is a difference of understanding so that there is a lack of parallel in the meaning of ordination.
If I’m not mistaken when Bishop Louttit was consecrated here in Georgia the RC Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was the location for his service. Bishop-elect Benhase’s service will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
#7 Montantan – I take it that KJS wasn’t involved in the service in Montana, was she? Just curious.
Good for Rome, says I.
I wonder why there isn’t the same kind of coverage when other Christian churches permit the pseudo ordinations of ‘womenpriests’ who claim to be Catholic. In those stories it is not questioned in the least or presented at all as being unfriendly to have the events at a church which will then expect the local Catholic parish to participate in ecumenical events.
I think the difference is that while Cardinal Ratzinger may have written letter to Lutheran Bishop Hanselmann of Bavaria that the question of the Eucharist and Orders “cannot be restricted to the problem of ‘validity’” so that Catholics are not required to “deny the saving presence of the Lord in the Lord’s Supper” in regards to male priests, (thus hospitality can be extended in those circumstances, both to Lutherans and Episcopalians), Rome is quite clear on where they stand on the ordination of women. So if women are being ordained, then Rome’s view would be that they will not participate in the sure simulation of a sacrament.
#10 Cranmerian – no, I believe it was ++Griswold, if memory serves.