"Why I am Leaving the Episcopal Church" a priest's explanation

The Gwinnett (GA) Citizen (scanned) | January 20, 2004 | the Rev, Dr, Foley Beach

[Leroy S. Mort]

have many/any of the female ministers in the Episcopal Dioceses in America expressed outrage like the Rev. Foley Beach has done?

Not being Episcopalian myself, I have no idea.

[Aquinasfan]

In apostolic times there existed many churches but one Church, since there cannot be more than one "pillar and foundation of truth."

1 Timothy 3:15

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Paul repeatedly condemns schism. Schism is logically impossible without orthodox teaching and a visible teaching authority.

Romans 16:17

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

There is also scriptural evidence for Petrine primacy. Consider the following three passages and the parallel structure:

Isaiah 22:22

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Revelation 3:7

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

In Isaiah 22, we see the succession in office of the vice-regent of the House of David. The vice-regent was second-in-command to the King of the House of David and held full plenary authority in the King's absence. His authority was represented by a key which was kept in a pouch and hung around his neck.

In Revelation 3:7, we see that Jesus is the eternal King of the House of David and is the ultimate "power behind the key."

In Matthew 16:19, we see Jesus give the "keys of the kingdom" to Peter, thus bestowing on Peter the office of "vice-regent" or vicar of Christ in Christ's "absence."

[GMMAC]

I essentially agree with what you've now said and, if I read some nonexistent glee into your initial post, I apologize.

It's truly amazing how the militant gay activists have been somehow able to turn scandalous child abuse, and as importantly the breaking of Sacred Vows, by their fellow-travelers into a "Catholic" outrage when the Church has virtually stood alone among major social institutions in opposing their twisted agenda.

As for theological error, the attempted cover-ups and outright enabling in the face of same by some members of The Eparchy, such as Boston's Cardinal Law, IMHO, most definitely fly in the face of fundamental teachings such as those found within Matthew:18 vs 1-10.

Personally, I greatly miss a lot of the traditional Anglican Observances and Hymns and would literally crawl to a Parish anywhere near my locale which offered the Anglo-Catholic sub-Rite authorized by the US Church in the 70's.
(As long as I live, not kneeling to receive the Holy Sacraments will never feel duly proper!)

However, as I was Confirmed/Chrismated and subsequently married within my wife's Eastern Rite community, I don't find its liturgical practices, other than its use of two languages, as "different" as those of mainline English Catholicism.

[ahadams2]

LOL! I'm not about to start a flame war here - that post was simply intended to give old codger something to think about...

[Leroy S. Mort]

Bumped as a reminder that Rev Beach's first services are tomorrow morning, as listed in the original post.