Instrumental in providing that vital helping hand was the then Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, who was, Canon Tuckwell says, the “final straw”. He then laughs. “No, that would give the wrong impression, Bishop Nichols was the opposite; he was the catalyst. We had an ecumenical service in my church and the local Catholic parish priest, Canon Frank Hegarty, a very good friend of mine and my sponsor in the Church, had spoken to Bishop Nichols.
“We spoke after the service, at the end of which he said: ‘Give me a call if I can be of any help.’ I phoned him a week later and he was very kind, arranged an interview, and that was it.
“I was fortunate enough to be here in Westminster and between them Cardinal Hume and Bishop Nichols were very generous and very encouraging. They really put themselves out to assist us in coming into the Church. I can’t say it was the experience with some of my colleagues in other dioceses, some of whom received a less than warm welcome.
“I think a popular misconception was we were all ultra-conservative and were going to put the clock back – whatever that meant – and we would be an unsettling force within English Catholicism. Some bishops were very friendly and welcoming, some less so. I don’t think it was politics, more a matter of preference or prejudice.”
Interesting lead – “As the Chruch prepares for a new wave of converts…”
Why can’t our own Anglican Communion leadership see the consequences of their actions (or lack thereof) this well?
Because they do not want us. That is the sad truth.
http://www.sbarnabas.com/blog