ALASKA: Bishop-elect Lattime completes consent process

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Dear Fellow Catholics:

An article on the *Episcopal News Online *(link provided)relates to the election, consent process, and impending ordination/consecration of the bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska. This ordination/consecration is to take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church in Anchorage, Alaska.

It’s really bad enough, in my opinion, that our priests and possibly our bishops permit the use of our churches and especially our altars by other ecclesial communities, as the Altar of any Catholic Church is to be used solely by valid priests to confect the Holy Sacrifice.

What is FAR worse, in my opinion, or at least gravely scandalous, is that at this particular service, the presiding “bishop” will be a woman! She’ll walk down the aisle, in either a cope or a chasuble, she’ll have a bishop’s mitre on her head, and she will carry her “pastoral” staff in her hand. After the ordination, the new bishop will preside over the celebratory “Eucharist” and this woman, with the other co-consecrators, will stand at his side, at the Altar of a Roman Catholic Church as a concelebrant.

I think that this has the potential to be gravely scandalous and confusing to the faithful. I invite you to read the article. I will follow with a copy of the email I sent to the Archbishop of Anchorage.

episcopalchurch.org/81803_123892_ENG_HTM.htm
 
This is a copy of the email I sent to Archbishop Schwietz. If I do not hear back from him, I intend to forward copies of the email to the Apostolic Nuciature in Washington and the relevant congregations at the Holy See.

The Most Rev. Roger L. Schwietz, OMI
Archbishop of Anchorage

Most Reverend Father in Christ,
Your Excellency:

I read with great interest an online article dated August 4, 2010, on the web site *Episcopal Life Online *which briefly discussed the election, consent process for and upcoming consecration of the Rev. Mark Andrew Lattime, bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska. The article stated (mistakenly, I hope) that the consecration of the Episcopalian bishop-elect would take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Anchorage and that Dr. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, USA, would officiate and serve as chief-consecrator (this particular article does not call her “chief consecrator,” but other articles in the same web site relating to the ordination of Episcopal bishops do use this term in relation to Dr. Jefferts Schori).

I find this deeply disturbing. First, the Church does not recognize the orders of the Episcopal Church, per *Apostolicae Curae *(HH Pope Leo XII and reiterated by HH Pope Benedict XVI). It seems to me problematic, then, that the Altar of this parish church, where the Holy Sacrifice is regularly confected, should be used even temporarily by an ecclesial community that does not hold valid orders and which cannot confect that Sacrifice. Second, while after the consecration the new Episcopal bishop will preside over their version of the Eucharist, the chief consecrator and other consecrating bishops also stand at the altar as concelebrants. There will thus be a woman “celebrating” the “eucharist” at the Altar of a Catholic Church of the Latin Rite, wearing a cope or chasuble, as well as a mitre, and carrying her primatial cross. This will, I believe, be a cause of grave scandal and confusion for the Catholic faithful, further giving encouragement to those misguided Catholics who agitate for the ordination of women despite the Church’s clear teaching. A Catholic woman who attempts priestly ordination, as well as any prelates that preside at such a travesty, incurs automatic excommunication (latae sententiae), yet we will permit a woman “bishop” of another community to preside at a “Eucharist” at one of our consecrated Altars? This is even more scandalous when one recalls that Dr. Jefferts Schori was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church (she was removed at the age of eight by her parents when they joined the Episcopal Church).

I hope, Your Excellency, that this article (web address follows this email’s closing) is incorrect and that a parish and altar of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church will not be used for such a purpose. I ask Your Excellency for clarification on this issue and thank you for your kind attention in this matter.

Respectfully Submitted,

John Kirk
JKirkLVNV@aol.com

PS: Please see episcopalchurch.org/81803_123892_ENG_HTM.htm
 
There have been Lutheran/Catholic churches sharing the same buildings and altars in Germany for over 100 years. I
 
It seems that they are a large parish with a large multi-purpose hall. Are you sure this is happening in the main church and not at the multi-purpose hall?
 
Very scandalous I think. The world is coming out from order. 😦
 
Their mission statement says it all:

Mission Statement:

"Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic parish of diverse cultures nourished by the Eucharist, guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by Our Patroness. We come together to pray, love, serve and evangelize through the Gospel of Life and social teachings of the Catholic Church.”

1.) Catholicism is a culture…one can only expect a Parish with “diverse cultures” will have to deviate from the Catholic culture in order to accomodate the others.

2.) “nourished, guided, inspired”—keywords indicative of progressivism…

3.) “We come together”–I guess they’re not together outside of Church.

“Gospel of life…emphasis on social teachings”–nevermind even mentioning that “stuffy” idea of being the sole and only means of saving the immortal soul (which is the Catholic Churches primary purpose).

I don’t know, it’s late and I’m very tired, perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but a mission statement can say a lot about the predominant culture/worldview of a Parish.
 
super_squirrel said:
Their mission statement says it all:

Mission Statement:

"Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic parish of diverse cultures nourished by the Eucharist, guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by Our Patroness. We come together to pray, love, serve and evangelize through the Gospel of Life and social teachings of the Catholic Church.”

1.) Catholicism is a culture…one can only expect a Parish with “diverse cultures” will have to deviate from the Catholic culture in order to accomodate the others.
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I think you might be reading too much into that. According to their website, the parish has a large number of Filipino and Hispanic members. Toss in Anglo members, and perhaps Native Alaskan members, then diverse cultures would be a fair description.

I understand the concern that is being expressed about an Episcopal consecration of a bishop, presided over by a female bishop, taking place before the altar of a Catholic Church. And I’m surprised that the archdiocese is allowing it to happen.

However, I am not sure we should be pinning the blame on the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A google search shows that this consecration, and where it was taking place, was announced back in April. And it even mentions that Bishop Schori would preside.
alaskabishopsearch.org/news.html

Surely the Archdiocese of Anchorage approved, in advance, the use of one of its churches. I would be very surprised if the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe decided to do this on his own.
 
Guys, make sure the thread title matches the news story.
Thanks.
 
My apologies re: the title, Eric.

I urge concerned Catholics to write to the Archbishop of Anchorage and respectfully request clarification on this issue. I DON’T know if it is the parish church or the hall that is being used, that is something His Excellency can clarify.

I also don’t know if this decision was taken at the parochial or the diocesan level. That’s something else that can be clarified.
 
I realize that this is a shameless bump, but I hope other people who see this as an important issue will also communicate with His Excellency the Archbishop of Anchorage…so bump.
 
I don’t usually post on here, and was actually looking for other info.

I posted on this on my blog, as I live in AK:
defend-us-in-battle.blogspot.com/2010/08/vetting-policy-double-standard.html

This is a huge deal, as it seems to be happening in the Church itself.
It is also confusing in light of the Archdiocesan vetting policy.

The Sacred nature of a Church is important to maintain. I can ignore and stomach some ecumenism, but this particular Woman is a very high profile, and flamboyantly provocative person.

I urge many of you to call and write the Archdiocese to get answers to your questions, and to request that this event be moved to a place less corrosive to the faith.
 
angelsdefendus said:
the sacred nature of a church is important to maintain. I can ignore and stomach some ecumenism, but this particular woman is a very high profile, and flamboyantly provocative person.
Click to expand...
thank you, angels defend us!
 
There should be a letter soon on my blog regarding this issue, that concerned Catholics may sign.

It will be a request that we send to the Archdiocese. We are looking for all Catholics who are concerned with this matter to consider submitting their name to it.

Look for it sometime today or early tomorrow on:

Defend Us in Battle
 
Can someone call or contact the parish and confirm if this is happening in the church itself or in the multi-purpose hall? If they are using the church proper, would they have access to the altar?
 
angelsdefendus said:
They are to use the church proper.
In fact the Archbishop has posted a letter explaining WHY he has allowed this.
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It is interesting that the archbishop’s letter was posted on the archdiocese website, and then taken down. I wonder what that means? :hmmm:

BTW, thanks for posting it, and your courteous letter to the archbishop. Surely a respectful, and reasoned, statement of concern will not be ill-taken.
 
Thank you for the kind words.

It is curious why it was up… and then down. I do not want to assume or guess why, and only pray that it is for reconsideration.

Please consider signing the letter or contributing to our spiritual bouquet. We can only overcome this with both ora ET labora
 
Just wondering if anyone has received an answer about this? Is the ceremony taking place in the church proper or in the community hall?
 
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