John Paul II shook the hand of an Anglican clergywoman
Correction to The Guardian's claim that no pope has ever shook the hand of an Anglican clergywoman:
The Rev. Donald Schell, a Daily Episcopalian contributor, let us know that actually Pope John Paul II shook the hand of the Rev. Beth Kelly, an Anglican clergywoman in April 2003.
From Donald Schell:
The Guardian is wrong about the first Anglican woman priest to shake hands with the Pope. This is my friend Beth Kelly, Diocese of California, in her collar in an audience with John Paul II. Beth was traveling with Bill and Mary Swing (Will was still the Bishop of California) and with Michael Hansen, Executive Officer of the Diocese, with Archbishop (now Cardinal Levada) and I believe with the Greek Bishop of San Francisco. They'd planned to visit +Rowan, the Pope, and the Ecumenical Patriarch. Canterbury couldn't work them into schedule.~Donald
From Beth Kelly
Yes, Donald he shook my hand then clasped it and blessed my community and my ministry. I understood from then Archbishop Levada (now Cardinal Levada and prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith) that I was the first to be met in what they call private audience. I think he wouldn't make a mistake about that.~Beth
Is that Cardinal Levada in the picture?
Whoever it is, I love {sarcasm disclaimer} the expression: "Your Holiness, meet the Nice Lady Abomination which we ALL hope we won't live to see here in the Roman Church!" ;-/
JC Fisher
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 8, 2010 9:30 PM
Perhaps our Fathers are really afraid of being the "heretic"... how can we support their faith? I have never seen an image of John Paul II so clearly suffering from late-state Parkinson's Disease... My only tart observation from this photo (my little Jezzebel is exposed!) is the smarmy look on the face of Cardinal Levada...
R
Posted by Richard Morse![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 8, 2010 11:09 PM
The first nasty remark about a pope never having shook a female Anglican priest's hand turned out to be untrue. Now you can't give it a rest without making further catty remarks about Catholics.
This is the same spirit of rancor that infests Virtueonline on Standfirminfaith. I guess Christ will have a hard time recognizing any of us by the love we show each other. Hardly inclusive.
Fr. Bill Ledbetter, Los Angeles
Posted by LA Episcopal priest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 8, 2010 11:36 PM
In May 1984, the paths of John Paul II and then President Reagan happened to cross in Fairbanks, Alaska. They met at the Fairbanks Airport & did things & made speeches. The Pope also met privately with an especially selected group of folk. Among them was the Rev. Jean Dementi, then vicar of St. Jude's Episcopal Church/North Pole. She pointedly wore her clergy shirt and, as he reached to shake hands with her, she handed him a note - something like "We women clergy seek only to bring alive the full spectrum ofChrist's ministry in the world" (or something like that). There's a photograph of that moment hanging (or at least used to be hanging) in the Fairbanks Airport.[How Jean, Episcopal priest, ended up in this group of specially selected Catholics is another story].
Posted by scott fisher![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 10, 2010 3:44 AM