EPISCOPAGANISM

Midwest Conservative Journal ^ | Apr 4 2006 | Christopher S. Johnson

[Presbyterian Reporter]

The shocking thing about this story is that it's not particularly shocking anymore: Now, thanks to some research by commenter Liz at TitusOneNine, it turns out that Maury Johnston, author of Gays Under Grace: A Gay Christian’s Response to Homosexuality and the recent widely-publicized essay "Facing the Spectre of Schism", is also known as "Shadwynn" and belongs to a Wiccan order called "Keepers of the Cauldron." The coven is described as being in the "grail quest tradition," based on the Arthurian legends and featuring a strong Eucharistic theme. Mr. Johnston claims to have "married" nine couples in his 18 years a Wiccan priest, and his other writings only underscore his bizarre notions of how to "blend" Christianity and Wicca.

Mr. Johnston’s essay "Facing the Spectre of Schism" was also reprinted with much enthusiasm in this post at "Father Jake Stops The World" and on - surprise - the Oasis blog. Father Jake posted another Johnston essay here.

These are not the only examples of Episcopal priests and prominent lay activists on the left dabbling in - and in some cases, immersing themselves in - polytheism, paganism, and witchcraft. They are simply some of the more well-known examples.

As Mark Shea puts it, supernature abhors a vacuum. In a "church" without any serious beliefs of any kind, this sort of thing is to be expected.

[Triggerhippie]

This is why we Lutherans need to stay as far away from the Episcopalians as we can. We have enough problems and we don't need to spread our sins to them either.

Not the least of which is lutefisk...

[The_Reader_David]

Well, the Episcopalians have been doing their best to drive serious Christians out.

There is a joke current among ex-Anglo-Catholic converts to Holy Orthodoxy about the old Anglo-Catholic turning to his wife as a statue of the Buddha (or Shiva, depending on the version) is carried down the nave of the church, and saying "So help me, one more thing like this, and I'm out of here!"

Truth be told, this was almost inevitable once the Episcopalian House of Bishops declared "Heresy is no longer a relevant category" when it deliberately refused to discipline Bishop Pike for denyin the Trinity. Now is seems even apostacy is no longer a relevant category for them.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

It seems the Episcopals have become more of cult than a religion. I would surmise this is the natural outcome of a church that ignores its doctrine and the Bible.

There is more detail about this latest Wiccan episode at this site----
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/star_trip/

[mnehring]

Let's be careful about labeling all Episcopals under this. Just like the Baptists, there are many branches of the Episcopal church, most of which even the most ardent fundamentalist would find orthodox. Most of the complaints about the Episcopal Church come from the actions from the American Episcopal Church. Branches such as the Reformed Episcopal, African Episcopal, and the Celtic Apostolic have rejected the actions being condemned. There are also individual churches such as the 'St. John in Exile' groups that have separated off independently from the mother Church.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

I suspect most are aware that it is the ECUSA being referred to in this posting. The "other" Episcopals are not the only ones who potentially get lumped in with the ECUSA.

The Missouri and Wisconsin Synod Lutherans suffer from having the word lutheran in their name as does the ELCA.

The many branches of Presbyterians suffer likewise for having Presbyterian in their name as does the PCUSA.

[IronJack]

Isn't the Whore of Babylon described in Revelation interpreted by some to be "the Church" in the End Times? A painted harlot profaning the image of the Church as Christ's bride.

Sounds like the the Episcopalians are vying for that title.