Following the news earlier this week of five bishops resigning to join the Roman Catholic Church in the wake of protests over changes \u201d\u201c among them the ordination of women bishops \u201d\u201c two leading local figures have now admitted they are considering their position.<\/p>\n
Father Ed Tomlinson, from St Barnabus\u2019 Church in Tunbridge Wells and Father Ivan Aquilina of St John the Baptist in Sevenoaks, spoke about the difficult decision they face and explained the schism between traditionalists and modernisers within the church.<\/p>\n
Father Tomlinson said: “Certainly it is fair to say that it would be very difficult for anyone with genuine Catholic convictions to stay, although some may try and do that for the time being.<\/p>\n
“Catholicism in the Church of England is dead beyond a generation. People could stay and enjoy the last few years or could make a radical decision in the short term that would guarantee a better future.<\/p>\n
“It is easy intellectually, but emotionally it is much harder. The important thing to say is that no decision has been made yet.”<\/p>\n