Into The Original Godly Fold

Sad, isn't it, when an established and highly respected authority for religious observance extends itself too inclusively to establish its credentials as conveyors of goodwill from the Heavenly Father, and in the process alienates many of its adherents beyond redemption. Even while Christ remains the Redeemer, and the Church of England, the Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church, in doing his bidding in welcoming all the fallen of the world by his own example, yet fails the expectations of their communion.

Who turn increasingly to the comfort of a more rigidly-practised and -inherited form of guided scripture. Not entirely unreasonable, since the Roman Catholic Church was the original inheritor of Christ's message of the sublime presence and order of the Heavenly Father. It was, after all, the self-absorbed heretical disobedience to Rome of a mere king whose unbridled lust was rejected by the-then Catholic majesty that gave birth to the Church of England.

It was decreed by the Catholic Church that a marriage was inviolate, once consummated, never to be sundered. Henry VIII became increasingly restive under that kind of commandment; he was, after all, the undisputed ruler of the land, England's King, albeit its catholic majesty. He was, to be sure, a womanizer of great appetite, who brooked no whiff of scandal to his scandalous philandering. An exception should and must be made in acknowledgment of his august self.

When it was not to be, and both he and the pope remained resolutely defiant, denying each the other's demands, the Catholic Church ceased to be, in England. And the resulting conflagration was horrendous. Of course, the early Catholic Church was not faultless in this very regard, since many of the early popes were married, had affairs, sired children, and not exactly in stealth. Now, that which Henry VIII rent asunder is mending itself.

Impressive numbers of clergy within the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church in the United States are finding themselves unable to accept the ordination of women, the recognition and elevation into the priesthood of gays. Horrors! female bishops...gay bishops; it is not to be, it is a grave affront against the Holy Father, and must not, cannot be countenanced.

Increasing numbers of priests in England and the United States have threatened to seek communion with Rome.

Not to mention the furor which has resulted over this distillation and corruption of Anglicanism coming from Africa and Latin America, which will have no part of this troubling trend. For its part, the Vatican is welcoming Anglican priests - with families in tow - into the fold, to become Catholic priests. It is also prepared for Anglican churches to retain their worship, liturgy and musical traditions, as long as they conform to Catholic doctrine.

The upstart Anglican Church, with a mere four centuries of tradition, most certainly must have misinterpreted Christ's message to welcome all into God's fold. Their appointment of an openly gay bishop and continuing troublesome ordination of women could only be seen as an assault upon the inviolability of religious tradition and correct interpretation of Scriptures. Woe betide them.

And it most certainly has. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has done his utmost to quiet his unruly flock, urging contemplation, patience, moderation. Instead what has resulted is confrontation, threats, grievances. He is caught between the open-minded acceptance of moderate coreligionists and the hard-right position of rigid doctrinaire practised by unforgiving fundamentalists.

The Anglican Church which has been accepting of the gradual diminishing of ritual, the dilution of Church doctrine, which has opened its arms to all and sundry in a spirit of religious egalitarianism has enraged its faithful, those whom its missionaries had enclosed in the sweet clasp of Christianity a mere century or so earlier. And in so doing, the branches of its tree have begun to wither.

The iconic male priest has succumbed to the dilution of female presence. But then, should sufficient numbers of Anglican priests depart for more rigid pastures within the fold of Catholicism, they may begin eventually to agitate for reform there. Perhaps in the form of resistance to celibacy. In the process through their conversion and clamour, ensuring that clergy will no longer prey on helpless children.

There may then result far fewer incidents of priestly sexual molestation of the trusting faithful. In that process, purifying the Church further, bringing it closer to humanity. That cannot be a bad thing.