Come Into My Parlour....
How sublimely generous it is of Pope Benedict to invite disaffected Anglicans (and Episcopalians) into the Mother Church. They too, can become Catholics. While retaining the traditions and the liturgy they hold dear. They will be welcomed as Roman Catholic priests even if they are married. Not, however, if they are female or gay. Married priests may not anticipate elevation to a Bishopric.
(If they are single and discreet pedophiles they may be considered, however.)
The Church of England has been under some great degree of stress, of late. Fissures have appeared, sadly irreconcilable to the communion as a whole. The traditionalists in the Anglican faith have no use for the liberal loosening of tradition. Particularly those traditionalists in Africa, in Asia, for whom female clergy represent an insult to the ordained order of things. And the ordination of homosexuals? Unspeakable.
Might it be a sign of contempt, or forgetfulness, that the Vatican made no attempt to consult with the Archbishop of Canterbury before issuing to Anglican parishes the wholesale invitation to return to the fold from which they came? Pope Benedict who vowed to restore the Catholic Church to its former glory, battling a dwindling membership has his eye on the 400,000 disaffected Anglicans who left their church.
A pragmatist, or an opportunist, seizing the moment? Archbishop Rowan Williams appears to have bowed his head to the inevitable, seeing nothing remotely amiss in this welcome by the Vatican to his Anglican flock. For whom the Catholic theology expressed in transubstantiation, and the Pope's supremacy is foreign. Dr. Williams, in response to the Apostolic Constitution believes this not to be an "act of aggression".
How gentle and generous. How disappointing to his followers. But then, this is also the Anglican leader who expressed an opinion on Sharia in Britain, avowing it his belief that it might be a positive step forward. Dr. Williams' capitulation to the Catholic Church's putsch heralds a further fragmentation of the Anglican Communion. How sad it is when traditions fade.
The (breakaway) Anglican Church in North America with their 700 parishes and 100,000 members may prefer to remain just as they are, spurning the kind offer by the Vatican, and preferring to keep their traditionalist distance from the larger Anglican community. Having no wish to join a club that is not quite so exclusive any more.
Having proven its lack of discrimination in inviting back to the fold the Society of Saint Pius X, inclusive of its Holocaust-denying bishop.
(If they are single and discreet pedophiles they may be considered, however.)
The Church of England has been under some great degree of stress, of late. Fissures have appeared, sadly irreconcilable to the communion as a whole. The traditionalists in the Anglican faith have no use for the liberal loosening of tradition. Particularly those traditionalists in Africa, in Asia, for whom female clergy represent an insult to the ordained order of things. And the ordination of homosexuals? Unspeakable.
Might it be a sign of contempt, or forgetfulness, that the Vatican made no attempt to consult with the Archbishop of Canterbury before issuing to Anglican parishes the wholesale invitation to return to the fold from which they came? Pope Benedict who vowed to restore the Catholic Church to its former glory, battling a dwindling membership has his eye on the 400,000 disaffected Anglicans who left their church.
A pragmatist, or an opportunist, seizing the moment? Archbishop Rowan Williams appears to have bowed his head to the inevitable, seeing nothing remotely amiss in this welcome by the Vatican to his Anglican flock. For whom the Catholic theology expressed in transubstantiation, and the Pope's supremacy is foreign. Dr. Williams, in response to the Apostolic Constitution believes this not to be an "act of aggression".
How gentle and generous. How disappointing to his followers. But then, this is also the Anglican leader who expressed an opinion on Sharia in Britain, avowing it his belief that it might be a positive step forward. Dr. Williams' capitulation to the Catholic Church's putsch heralds a further fragmentation of the Anglican Communion. How sad it is when traditions fade.
The (breakaway) Anglican Church in North America with their 700 parishes and 100,000 members may prefer to remain just as they are, spurning the kind offer by the Vatican, and preferring to keep their traditionalist distance from the larger Anglican community. Having no wish to join a club that is not quite so exclusive any more.
Having proven its lack of discrimination in inviting back to the fold the Society of Saint Pius X, inclusive of its Holocaust-denying bishop.
Labels: Human Relations, Religion
posted by Pieface | 6:53 PM
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