Ordinations of former bishops yet one more distraction

An unsigned editorial running in The Guardian's Observer says the Anglican bishops who were ordained yesterday as Catholic priests simply demonstrate a "Catholic church fixated on stealing a march on Anglicanism.... as if the Reformation was a recent score to be settled."

The establishment of a special ordinariate where former Anglicans who reject women's ordination can carry on much as before, but within the Catholic fold, can only cause tension between the two churches. That in its turn will focus attention once again on disputes between different branches of Christianity, and make religion look out of touch with the real world.

....

Meanwhile, those aspects of the church beneficial to the whole of society – its work for social justice, with the poor, the marginalised – are once again pushed into the background. Many British Catholics who want no part of this game of ecclesiastical power politics are left despairing. Those of other faiths or none, and of even moderately enlightened disposition, will be more inclined to turn their backs in anger.

Posted by Torey Lightcap on January 16, 2011 12:25 PM | |
Comments (6)

The Tudors redux. At least a second Elizabeth is Supreme Head and not another Mary.

Posted by Paul Woodrum [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 16, 2011 6:37 PM

Kudos to the Observer for bringin' it.

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 16, 2011 7:08 PM

Speaking of The Tudors: BBC America is running seasons 1 & 2 (those of us w/o premium cable will have a chance to see it!).

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 16, 2011 7:10 PM

Today near Scranton, PA, one of my classmates from the RC Diocese for which I also studied was received as a priest in the Diocese of Bethlehem. During the liturgy they named all the priests who joined the Episcopal Church (just in this diocese) and it was a good list with some very good men on it. So if we are keeping score, I think we've got an advantage in both quantity and quality of priests who have left Rome and come home to the Episcopal Church. Go team!

Posted by Peter Pearson [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 16, 2011 10:00 PM

I won't say I hope they won't rue the day they did this, because I do!

Posted by Rita Wallace [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 18, 2011 12:37 AM

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