Could the Pope Aid an Anglican Split?

[Maranatha]

Could the Pope Aid an Anglican Split?

A non-English spectator might be tempted to think that the agony was another chapter in the battle between theological conservatives and liberals that currently threatens the unity of both the global Anglican Communion and the U.S. Episcopal Church. (The Church of England is the flagship of the Communion and the Episcopal Church is a member.) In fact, on its face, the Church of England’s crisis is only distantly related to the global or American scene. However, it might draw in a very powerful observer from outside the Communion who could make things very interesting: Pope Benedict XVI.

Both the special nature of the English crisis and the Pope’s possible involvement hinge on the fact that most of the English dissidents this week are not the evangelical, Bible-thumping members of the Communion whose fury at the American ordination of an openly gay bishop has led to talks of schism this summer. Rather they are members of a faction, heavy on liturgy and ritual, that abhors evangelicalism but considers itself very close to the Catholicism from which the Anglican Church originally sprang. Many “Anglo-Catholics” share Rome’s opposition to female ordination. They have also historically hoped for a reunion with Catholicism, and correctly assume that female bishops would be a deal-breaker in any negotiation with Rome. So the move to ordain women bishops is more than some of them can stand. In a petition last week, some 1,300 Anglican priests and bishops stated that if the Synod voted along the lines that it eventually did on Monday, that “we will inevitably be asking whether we can… continue [with] the Church of England which has been our home.”

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[bkovacs]

Hopefully he will “aid with it”. These separated brethren need a home and are willing to accept back the faith. Let’s welcome them back with open arms and hearts!!.

 

[benedictgal]

Actually, not to sound uncharitable to the Anglicans, but, the sad truth is that the actions that their leaders have taken are causing this particular ecclesial community to tear apart at the seams.

Unfortunately, the seeds were planted by King Henry VIII himself when he split from Rome. Because he vehemently disagreed with the Holy Fathr’s Petrine authority, he configured an ecclesial community that had no hierarchy and no cohesion.

 

[Cactus]

I’ve been reading “America Alone” by Mark Steyn. In it he addresses some of the strain in the Anglican world: (pp 98-99)

If ever there were a time for a strong voice from the heart of Christianity, this would be it. And yet most mainline Protestant churches are as wedded to the platitudes du jour as the laziest politician. These days, if it weren’t for homosexuality, the “mainstream” Christian would barely get any press at all. In 2005, the big story in America was the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop; in Britain, the nomination of a celibate gay bishop; in Canada, New Westminster’s decision to become the first diocese in the Anglican communion *to perform same-sex ceremonies. In Nigeria, where on any Sunday the Anglicans in the pews outnumber those in America, Canada, and Britain combined, the archbishop is notably miffed that the only news he gets from the head office revolves around various permutations of gayness. Getting a reputation as a cult for upscale Western sodomites and a few attendant fetishists doesn’t help when half your country’s in the grip of sharia and the local Islamoheavies are just itching to torch your churces.

Whatever one’s views are of homosexuality, it would seem in the greater scheme of things to be marginal, and thus the preoccupation with minority sexuality is best understood as mainstream Protestantism’s retreat to the periphery"*

 

[nablaise]

About Henry’s seed, few days ago I was telling a friend that what is happening in the AC is like a result of a curse. I just detailed this in my blog. Every sin goes with a curse as Genesis show us. For the Anglicans they have in thier communion a sexual curse from its foundation. They just can’t break it without breaking their communion because this one is founded upon it. That’s why they can’t really find any good argument against liberal, the only option for those who accept the orthodoxy is to come back to Rome.

In an other article, someone mentioned that we can’t even be sure if the ABC Rowan is still Anglican himself. They are deposing him from all side, if he is really a good friend of the Pope as people say, then he must have a good understanding of catholicism and can’t really follow the direction things are taking.

Many bishop in AC were already ok with catholicism, they were just waiting for formal reunion. I think the ABC was one of them. I wouldn’t be much surprised if he come with the traditionalist to Rome after the Lambeth Conferance.

God bless

 

[rjs1]

Unfortunately, the seeds were planted by King Henry VIII himself when he split from Rome. Because he vehemently disagreed with the Holy Fathr’s Petrine authority, he configured an ecclesial community that had no hierarchy and no cohesion.

We tend to forget that in the overall history of mankind 500 years is a short time. The seeds of destruction of the Church of England were indeed started by Henry VIII himself when he split from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church set up by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Henry’s arrogance, his setting up of himself as head of the church, was the beginning of its destruction.

Hopefully many, many Anglicans will now realise this and return home to the catholic Church.

 

[wutru]

Anyone else irritated how Time.com wrote that title? It’s implying that Pope Benedict is being devious and splintering the Anglicans, when in reality, it’s their leadership lost without Authority.

 

[Dempsey1919]

I hope the 1,300 respond to the grace of the Holy Spirit and return home to Holy Mother Church.

I would think that an Anglican Rite would be a great temporary measure to sooth the transition. From what I’ve heard, the Anglican rite is actually more solemn than the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

 

[benedictgal]

I hope the 1,300 respond to the grace of the Holy Spirit and return home to Holy Mother Church.

I would think that an Anglican Rite would be a great temporary measure to sooth the transition. From what I’ve heard, the Anglican rite is actually more solemn than the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

When I lived in Austin, I would sometimes attend the Anglican-Use Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland. The priest had invited me so I would go. It was beautiful and very solemn and the music was impressive. The folks were happy to be in communion with Rome and fully embraced the Church.

Going back to the point that I had originally made, it seems that the drive-by media has completely forgotten Henry’s motives for leaving the Church. He didn’t want to deal with Petrine authority. He believed himself to be greater than the Vicar of Christ. Therefore, he made his own ecclesial community, without a hierarchy, without a magisterium, and 500 years later, the cracks are showing. Rather than being guided by the Holy Spirit, this ecclesial community seems to fall prey to the current waves of fashion. That is why it is constantly being buffeted and is slowly eroding. .

 

[Digitonomy]

Many bishop in AC were already ok with catholicism, they were just waiting for formal reunion. I think the ABC was one of them. I wouldn’t be much surprised if he come with the traditionalist to Rome after the Lambeth ConferanceGod bless

I would be stunned if this were to happen, but perhaps you follow the Anglican Church more closely than I do. I have trouble seeing how he could in good conscience ordain women if there is no space theologically between him and Rome.

 

[benedictgal]

I would be stunned if this were to happen, but perhaps you follow the Anglican Church more closely than I do. I have trouble seeing how he could in good conscience ordain women if there is no space theologically between him and Rome.

I think Rowan’s predecessor, Runcie was a little more conservative then the current Archbishop of Canterbury. I still think that all of this mess is traced back to the errors of Henry VIII.

 

[rien]

I hope the 1,300 respond to the grace of the Holy Spirit and return home to Holy Mother Church.

I would think that an Anglican Rite would be a great temporary measure to sooth the transition. From what I’ve heard, the Anglican rite is actually more solemn than the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

I highly doubt you will see an Anglican Rite - with married priests and a real degree of control over the naming of their bishops in the West. This is the last thing Rome wants. It will just increase the pressure for maried priests in the Latin Rite and further the growing demands that the local Latin Rite churches be given real say in the naming of their bishops.

IMO this will all pass. Individual bishops, many priests and many Anglican will convert. But not the numbers suggested now as I do not think Rome, let alone the English episcopacy, wants an Anglican Catholic Rite in the West.

I know of several men who struggled at becoming priests because they could not marry. If the Anglican Rite had been present they would have switched Rites, become priests and married. An Anglican Western Rite would destroy the teetering celibate priesthood IMO. Again, IMO, Rome will not go for it.

 

[Holly3278]

Actually, not to sound uncharitable to the Anglicans, but, the sad truth is that the actions that their leaders have taken are causing this particular ecclesial community to tear apart at the seams.

Unfortunately, the seeds were planted by King Henry VIII himself when he split from Rome. Because he vehemently disagreed with the Holy Fathr’s Petrine authority, he configured an ecclesial community that had no hierarchy and no cohesion.

Exactly! The founding of the Anglican church was a mistake if you ask me. Henry VIII should have just submitted to the Holy Father but instead he chose to disobey. Disobedience breeds discord.

 

[benedictgal]

Just before retiring for the evening, I came across this little gem from Raymond Arroyo’s blog, “Seen and Unseen.” It gave me the chills since this is exactly the same point I’ve been making, even down to reading Anglican Archbishop Rowan:

It is curious that a church founded by a King (Henry VIII) to satisfy his desire to bed and wed a woman other than his wife, should be brought to its knees by sexual and gender issues. But this seems to be the case. The deep divisions that emerged this week can be boiled down to: the interpretation of the Gospel. Should women be allowed to enter the episcopacy? Should gays? And who is to decide? A cadre of traditionalist Bishops in Africa want to sever ties with the more liberal Anglicans of the developed world, people whom they claim espouse a “false gospel.” 1,300 Anglican clergymen, including hundreds of bishops threatened to leave the communion if women were permitted to become bishops. Despite the threat, female bishops will soon be consecrated in the Church of England. Following the announcement, The Archbishop of Canterbury said, “I am deeply unhappy with any scheme or any solution to this which ends up, as it were, structurally humiliating women who might be nominated to the episcopate.”

What is rather disappointing is Rowan’s comments regarding the possibility of humiliating women who might want to be bishops. Give me a break. This is cow-towing to radical feminism.

The Anglican ecclesial community was founded simply because Henry VIII wanted to divorce Queen Catherine to marry Ann Bolyne (sp?). The Anglicans are now watching their foundations erode because of an issue related to women.

Mind you, I am a woman. But, I believe in what our Church teaches. The Church teaches this because it is the Truth. There is no scriptual basis whatsoever for women in the episcopate, let alone, the priesthood.

I suspect that Charles will inherit a very fractured ecclesial community if and when he assumes the throne. But, even his qualifications to head the Anglicans will be called into question because of his present situation with Camilla.