Until July 2008 it was possible for members of the Church of England to claim to be part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. By the vote in General Synod on 7/7/08 that possibility was removed. Now catholic Anglicans are looking to the future without any real chance of remaining members of the Church of England.
Fifteen years ago, we were told we had an honoured place in that church, and that there would be no discrimination against any of us who believed in conscience that women could not be priests. Now, the majority in General Synod have reneged on those promises. They have sought to cover their naked ambition with the fig-leaf of a ‘code of practice’ but we are not deceived. The code of practice of the House of Bishops which accompanied the Act of Synod in 1993 has been either ignored or positively undermined by those in authority. The even-handedness which was promised us has been replaced by a determined and successful effort to ensure that no-one who believed women’s ordination might be against the will of God would gain any sort of senior office in the church.
For myself, this clear decision that the majority wants to be rid of us comes as a great relief. We can now begin to plan for a future which will not involve us in compromise. Our Fathers in God (the Provincial Episcopal Visitors, and the few remaining orthodox bishops such as Fulham, Chichester and a handful of others) will do their best to encourage us and keep us together, so that we can hold together. We believe our friends in the Roman Communion will do all they can to help us. Meanwhile, we must pray for one another and support one another – and pray for those who despitefully use us and want us gone. It is a sad time for the Church of England; but not for the Church of God. Great is the truth, and will prevail. God bless and sustain you – and in this interim the Church Union will do all it can to help you.
Tough lesson for the Anglo Catholics, but I believe a real gift from God to correct us on our failings, and to gently, but firmly, teach us to swim (perhaps in a maternal, dolphin-like way) to Rome.
One small suggestion for Anglo Catholics from this Roman Catholic: if you are interested in rapprochement with the RC Church, stop talking about ‘Romans’ as if we were people going round in togas. It grates. You might even try referring to us as Catholics from time to time.
Snipit from the greatest movie on Earth, The Cardinal:
Card. Ferengi, “Though you are an American, you have a character which is, well, Roman.”
Fr. Furmoyle, “Your emminence could not have chosen a better word to flatter me.”
Dear AngCat: You may remember that when Fr Furmoyle becomes Archbishop of ?Stamford, in the novel, his vicar general turns out to be a convert from the Episcopal Church who smokes a pipe with a mixture of Three Nuns and Parson’s Pleasure. The convert goes on to be an, err, Roman bishop also.
Another fan of the book/film! I am delighted.
Terry Tee – are you interested in raprochement?