Goodbye Thames, Hello Tiber
Thanks be to God
And thank you to The English Martyrs for their intercession. Wonderful news from The Telegraph in it's entirety;C of E bishop will lead Anglicans to Rome
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, is to lead his fellow Anglo-Catholics from the Church of England into the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Herald will reveal this week.
Bishop Burnham, one of two "flying bishops" in the province of Canterbury, has made a statement asking Pope Benedict XVI and the English Catholic bishops for "magnanimous gestures" that will allow traditionalists to become Catholics en masse.
He is confident that this will happen, following talks in Rome with Cardinal Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Kasper, the Vatican's head of ecumenism. He was accompanied on his visit by the Rt Rev Keith Newton, Bishop of Richborough, the other Canterbury "flying bishop", who is expected to follow his example.
Bishop Burnham hopes that Rome will offer special arrangements whereby former Anglicans can stay worshipping in parishes under the guidance of a Catholic bishop. Most of these parishes already use the Roman liturgy, but there may be provision for Anglican prayers if churches request it.
Anglican priests who are already married will not be barred from ordination as priests, though Bishop Burnham would not be able to continue in episcopal orders, as he is married and there is an absolute bar on married bishops in the Roman and Orthodox Churches.
In his statement, Bishop Burnham explains why he is rejecting the code of practice offered to traditionalists by the General Synod last night. "How could we trust a code of practice to deliver a workable ecclesiology if every suggestion we have made for our inclusion has been turned down flat?" he asks.
"How could we trust a code of practice when those who are offering it include those who have done most to undermine and seek to revoke the code of practice in force for these last 14 years? ...
"What we must humbly ask for now is for magnanimous gestures from our Catholic friends, especially from the Holy Father, who well understands our longing for unity, and from the hierarchy of England and Wales. Most of all we ask for ways that allow us to bring our folk with us."
Thanks be to God
And thank you to The English Martyrs for their intercession. Wonderful news from The Telegraph in it's entirety;
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, is to lead his fellow Anglo-Catholics from the Church of England into the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Herald will reveal this week.
Bishop Burnham, one of two "flying bishops" in the province of Canterbury, has made a statement asking Pope Benedict XVI and the English Catholic bishops for "magnanimous gestures" that will allow traditionalists to become Catholics en masse.
He is confident that this will happen, following talks in Rome with Cardinal Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Kasper, the Vatican's head of ecumenism. He was accompanied on his visit by the Rt Rev Keith Newton, Bishop of Richborough, the other Canterbury "flying bishop", who is expected to follow his example.
Bishop Burnham hopes that Rome will offer special arrangements whereby former Anglicans can stay worshipping in parishes under the guidance of a Catholic bishop. Most of these parishes already use the Roman liturgy, but there may be provision for Anglican prayers if churches request it.
Anglican priests who are already married will not be barred from ordination as priests, though Bishop Burnham would not be able to continue in episcopal orders, as he is married and there is an absolute bar on married bishops in the Roman and Orthodox Churches.
In his statement, Bishop Burnham explains why he is rejecting the code of practice offered to traditionalists by the General Synod last night. "How could we trust a code of practice to deliver a workable ecclesiology if every suggestion we have made for our inclusion has been turned down flat?" he asks.
"How could we trust a code of practice when those who are offering it include those who have done most to undermine and seek to revoke the code of practice in force for these last 14 years? ...
"What we must humbly ask for now is for magnanimous gestures from our Catholic friends, especially from the Holy Father, who well understands our longing for unity, and from the hierarchy of England and Wales. Most of all we ask for ways that allow us to bring our folk with us."
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
12:19 PM
6 Comments:
You see, I must be ignorant. I don't get it.
How can all these people be accepted 'en masse' into the Church? Won't they have to pass through RCIA first? They will surely need instruction into the teachings of the Church, because they need to proclaim the belief and acceptance of all the the Church teaches, right?
If they already accept everything that the Church teaches, why aren't they already Catholic, attending Mass each week? If there are 'issues' that prevented them from joining the Church then surely these need to be worked on before they can join the Church? What about all those that will be in invalid marriages? That will need to be resolved before they can take communion at Mass, they will need to live the correct way together until these issues are resolved, if they are going to live a true Catholic life. Aren't they?
You see, I just don't get it. I must be a bit dense, I guess.
I will rejoice in the day when Andrew Burnham becomes Father Andrew Burnham of the Roman Catholic Church; a much higher calling than to be a bishop of an ecclesial community. COME HOME!
Jay,
Conversions can happen en masse. Reception is much different. As you correctly pointed out, a catechisis is required first.
As to why they aren't Catholic already, I guess it just takes some folks longer to have that "enough!" button punched.
Hallelujah! (Can you hear the music in the background?) What incredible news! St. Thomas More and ALL the English martyrs must be smiling down from Heaven...
Well, in any event, Deo gratias!!!
Part of me really wishes it hadn't come to this, as I don't like to see the lion's share of Anglican Communion turning up their noses at even more of the Faith. C.S. Lewis would never know today's C of E.
But part of me says "Hey, come home to Rome..." :-p
Deo Gratias, welcome home! Now if we can get the Orthodox and the SSPX on borard it'd be even better!
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