Churchgoers in almost 300 parishes that disapprove of women priests may take advantage of Pope Benedict XVI’s offer to change denomination if their “flying bishops” lead the way.
However the Church of England is expected to make a last-ditch attempt to stop the disillusioned groups leaving, by offering them concessions over the introduction of female bishops.
As The Sunday Telegraph disclosed, the bishops of Fulham, Richborough and Ebbsfleet held a secret meeting with papal advisers last week to discuss plans for Anglicans to convert to the Roman Catholic Church en masse.
At least one key member of the English Catholic church’s commission on the Anglican Ordinariate ”“ the Pope’s move to allow Anglicans to enter into full communion with the Holy See while retaining some of their spiritual heritage ”“ was in Rome at the same time.
Kendall,
I read the article which you posted last night from the Telegraph, but it seems to have been removed from your site this morning. Regardless of whether one favors or disapproves of Women bishops in the C of E, the question I have is what canonical disciplinary actions will await Fulham, Ebbsfleet and Richborough? I believe that if five clergymen and five laymen in each diocese present accusations against them they could face an ecclesiastical trial and possibly be forced to step-down. I am fairly certain that RW doesn’t have the stomach, the inclination or the will to enforce the Canons of the Church of England. But if they were members of the British Intelligence Community and had negotiated a secret deal with a foreign government, they’d be charged with treason. Unfortunately Ecclesiastical Politics is not taken nearly as seriously as it should and they will remain in office until they leave of their own accord. They are quite willing to leave Anglo-Catholics in the C of E to the mercy of the Affirming-Catholic majority, or themselves convert to Rome. If I were an AC in the C of E and had no inclination towards Crossing the Tiber, I’d be mad as Hell. These men have betrayed their professed loyalty to the Church and the Crown.
Far from deserting people they have had the vision to seek safe pasture in the ordinariate. If you are too stubborn or foolish to accept that the game is up and that the Catholic dream is over then good luck to you! But these good bishops, knowing that they have limited power, observing what is happening in America, and certain that synod will fail us- has bravely worked to open a door where one is bein slammed in our faces. I thank them, God and the Holy Father for that and will dedicate my life to making the opportunity work
Rugbyplayingpriest,
Presuming that you are currently in the C of E, are you suggesting that your own loyalty is now elsewhere? How can you serve two masters?
Ultimate loyalty for a Christian is to Christ, not to a particular Church
or crown. The choice of one’s Church should be based on which
Church allows us to follow Christ most closely. If a cleric or layperson
believes their Church has turned renegade against its foundational
principles, then it is time to leave and pitch one’s tent in another
community.
Rubyplayingpriest,
What exactly was/is the Catholic Dream, which you say is now over?