The National Assembly of Forward in Faith is meeting in London. This group is comprised mostly of those who would consider themselves Anglo-catholic, and it's a presence in several provinces in the Anglican Communion. The galvanizing issue for them is the ordination of women. Obviously, they're against it. Of course, there are other issues that concern them, and they tend to be fairly traditional on things like the liturgy, their understanding of sacraments and ecclesiology. It was formed in 1992 and is really an amalgamation of several different catholic-minded groups within Anglicanism. Many, of not most of the members would have reunion with Rome fairly high on their agenda. Knowing that about them, I thought it would be really interesting to listen to the speakers, and they have the audio presentations available. You can listen to them at their website.
Frankly, I was disappointed. Yes, they called the news from Rome "historic." They acknowledged that some people might be interested in the Personal Ordinariates. But most of their talk was about derailing the push towards having women bishops in the Church of England, and protecting their place as Anglo-catholics. They wanted to see what Rome was really offering, to see if it would be a better deal than they could get in the Church of England. They were disappointed because they want "corporate reunion" between Anglicans and Rome -- although how they think there could be anything like that when they can't even get along among themselves, I do not know. I mean, the Holy Father did everything except somersaults, and these people are still shopping around for the best deal? I think some of them were surprised that in order to be part of an Ordinariate, they'd actually be expected to become Roman Catholics.
I don't mean to sound negative. I have no doubt that there is a goodly number of serious-minded Anglicans who will prayerfully and gratefully grasp the Holy Father's outstretched hand. I think the Ordinariates will be built slowly, which is no doubt the best way. I liken it to the very gentle snowstorms I remember from my childhood in New England, which would start with a slight dusting of flakes on the ground and then slowly, slowly building up until everything was completely covered and sparkling white. The Ordinariates will be provided as they're needed, until they spread out wider and wider, and I believe more and more people will come to the realization that their real spiritual home is to be found in full communion with the See of Peter. That, along with the inevitable and natural growth of our existing parishes, means that the future of our beautiful patrimony is secure.
England, and by extension, all of Anglicanism is Mary's dowry. Since we belong to our Lady in a special way, we know her deepest wish is to have her whole dowry back in the Catholic Church as it was established by her Divine Son. At the end of the 14th century, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Arundel, wrote to his bishops, "The contemplation of the great mystery of the Incarnation has drawn all Christian nations to venerate her from whom came the first beginnings of our redemption. But we English, being the servants of her special inheritance and her own dowry, as we are commonly called, ought to surpass others in the fervour of our praises and devotions." And now, finally, at the beginning of the 21st century, Pope Benedict XVI is helping to bring that very thing to pass.
15 comments:
For too many of these men, FiF seems not to mean Forward in Faith but Frozen in Fear.
In fairness to them, though, a man who honestly (even if falsely) believes that he is already a complete Catholic, lacking nothing in Word or Sacrament, while still in the Church of England or one of its daughters will have little reason to sacrifice a beautiful building, a gracious living, the comfort of a well known life, and the prestige of a known position in order to be acknowledged as being in full communion with the Catholic Church by the Bishop of Rome. Only a man who concludes that he cannot stay where he is because his religion is incomplete will make such sacrifices, and I suspect that we are going to find that not many of the Anglican clergy in Forward in Faith will conclude that they need to move anywhere. They may later be pushed by the revisionists who run the table in the Church of England, but that is different from moving of one's own accord.
So much for the Catholicism of Anglo-Catholics.
I listened to Friday's speakers and haven't seen much reason to listen to the rest.
Frankly, what I've heard sounds a lot like what I feared the response might be: the ordinariate is viewed as an option for realignment with another communion if the current communion gets worse. Ironically (considering the trumpeting of their catholicity), it's the same sort of attitude that has marked the rest of Protestantism since its inception.
As a former Anglican myself, I pray that their hearts be opened to the blessing of true unity with True Church. Peter is not some desirable check mark in a list of "catholic qualities", but that rock which forms the very foundation of Christ's Church on earth.
May they realize what a -blessing- it is to know that the earthquakes that have cracked their communion (and broken so many others), have never and will never shake ours (although, admittedly, some do make a great deal of noise!).
(And dear Lord, what do they think they are saying when they claim to accept the Magisterium?)
And to be clear -- I'm still very much excited by the odinariate! Some good things take time to ripen and bear much fruit and, judging by these (admittedly, limited and very early responses) this will take time as well. I only pray that those conversions that do occur are something more than a conversion of convenience.
JP,
I was about to write a similar comment, at least in regard to groups other than FiF...I am truly grateful for the Apostolic Constitution and its predecessor, the Pastoral Provision because it gives many cradle Catholics, such as myself, the chance to participate in more reverent worship, among other things...however, now that the dust is starting to settle somewhat, when I read the various responses to the Pope's initiative on VirtueOnline, the "Voice for Global 'Orthodox' Anglicanism", I must admit that I am somewhat disturbed that many of these bishops and other clerics and other faithful of the various communities think that this is just another "option" to consider rather than the fulfillment of Christ's desire that "all may be one". Now, yes, I know that there must be some discernment involved, but that doesn't seem what these groups have in mind---they seem to be going for the "option" which sounds the best. And this is before I've even listened to the FiF speeches, which I have not yet done.
I knew this all along. I have read many posts from Anglicans/Epsicopians and even Hepworth, that just want their own communion tacked onto the Catholic Church. Now that the Holy Father has made the invitation for reunion, they are backing off. The real problems to me is authority. As a former Anglo Catholic I saw it when some of us went to Rome. The buildings, liturgy and freedom to have it their way is more important to some than belonging to the Truth and Fullness of the Faith. Hopefully many will be willing to sacrifice these things for the Truth of the Catholic Faith.
I listened to John Hepworth's talk at FiF, and I found his interpretation of things ever so slightly odd. He spoke as though there would almost be an Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, and that it would be somehow separate from the Latin Rite. I need to listen again, to see if I was listening carefully enough. If anyone else has a chance to listen to his words, I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Father, I would love to see you answer this:
http://tinyurl.com/yktd2k3
Don't have time for much further commenting, but there's another very nice summary/perspective on FiF's proceedings for those interested:
http://subtuum.blogspot.com/
Fr. Phillips,
When I first read a statement, several months ago by Hepworth, that is exactly what he said in that article. I don't recall where I saw it. But even today speaking with a TAC priest and reading other posts from TAC members, they didn't appear to actually want to be Latin Rite Catholics with their own Use. They just wanted to be considered Catholic. Catholics by the worlds standard. It is difficult to explain, but as a former Anglo Catholic when someone would ask if I was Catholic and I would say "yes" I knew in my heart I really wasn't what they meant by Catholic. I feel they really want to stay Anglicans and be free of submitting to orders from the Pope, but be considered Catholic.
At least that is my take on it. I am sure that some are like us and really believe that the Catholic Church is the True Church and will accept the terms, whatever they are to come into the Church.
As a former Anglican "Priest" now a Catholic Deacon (I became a Catholic 17 years ago), my take on all this is that most, if not all, Forward in Faith Anglicans would have been quite happy with a "Personal Prelature" (aka Flying Bishops) within the Anglican Communion. In fact they were lobbing for this.
They have little idea of what it truly means to be Catholic.
I can understand how you and many of your commentators are a bit cynical about the Forwa\rd in Faith resonse if youo only listened to what the General Synod representatives said. Before you dismiss us all equally, do listen to the four young men (two ordained, two ordinands) on the Forward in Faith audio link and you will see there are still some good yung men in our church who intend to accept the Holy Father's welcome in humility and joy - and there are also some old ones too, I promise you.
Fr. Phillips,
I think this is an important question that needs to be answered. I keep reading that the new structure will allowed married priests, but in the context that any man who is unmarried and applies to become a Catholic priest under the Anglican structure will be able to become a priest and then marry after ordination. That is not my take of this. I thought this would be more in line with the Pastoral Provision, that a married Anglican/Episcopal priest can enter into the Catholic Church and be ordained, not an end to a celibrate priesthood for only Episcopalians or Anglicans. Do you know what the ruling will be?
Thank you.
We'll have the answers to our questions when the Apostolic Constitution is published, but I would be very, VERY surprised if the discipline of clerical celibacy will be different from the present practice in the Pastoral Provision (convert priests already married receive a dispensation; subsequent vocations from within follow the Latin Rite discipline). We have had young men ordained to the priesthood over the years (the most recent not many days ago in Rome), and they have all willingly taken the vow of celibacy, and expected nothing different.
Yikes, anonymous! The link you gave me to Commonweal Magazine, where it bring up the whole matter of artificial contraception, made me wonder what the author thinks conversion is all about. When an Anglican (or anyone, for that matter) actually chooses to become a Catholic, he'd better be ready to take the whole package. To pick and choose is asking for a life of spiritual misery. All the convert clergy and their wives whom I know have happily embraced the beauty of the Church's teaching about this.
Edwin,
I came to post that same recommendation: listen to the younger priests. I am glad
If some us Catholics sound cynical its either because A) this is the first time we've seen how Anglicans handle important matters or B) For us former Anglicans(as in my own case), we've just been reminded :)
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