Britain names first Catholic ambassador to Vatican since Reformation

CNS via Denver Catholic Register ^ | 30 November 2005

[A.A. Cunningham]

Britain names first Catholic ambassador to Vatican since Reformation

LONDON (CNS) — Britain has appointed its first Catholic ambassador to the Vatican since the Protestant Reformation. The Foreign Office announced in mid-November that it had chosen Francis Campbell, 35, as a replacement for Kathryn Colvin, who retired in September. Campbell will take up his position in December. Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Vatican were restored in 1914 after a break of 350 years, but in 1917 the Foreign Office issued a memorandum saying that Britain’s representative “should not be filled with unreasoning awe of the pope,” and the post has always been filled by a Protestant.

[A.A. Cunningham]

CHANGE OF AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE (15/11/05)

Mr Francis Campbell has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See in succession to Mrs Kathryn Colvin CVO who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Campbell will take up his appointment in December 2005.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full Name: Mr Francis Martin-Xavier Campbell
Date of Birth: 20 April 1970

2005 - Senior Policy Director, Amnesty International
2003 - 2005: 1st Secretary, British Embassy to Italy
2001 - 2003: On secondment to No 10 Downing Street as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
1999 - 2001: On secondment to No 10 Downing Street as Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister
1998 - 1999: European Enlargement Unit, FCO
1997 - 1998: On secondment to the European Commission – appointed to the EC Delegation at the UN in New York for the UK Presidency of the EU
1997: European Enlargement Unit, FCO
1996 - 1997: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (MA)
1994 - 1995: Katholieke University of Leuven, Belgium (MA)
1989 - 1992: Queen's University Belfast, (BA)

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Foreign Secretary announced in Parliament on 15 December 2004 that the FCO would widen the pool of potential candidates to beyond current Diplomatic Service staff when appointing a new Ambassador to the Holy See.

2. This is the first time we have appointed an Ambassador by open competition, although it is not unusual now for senior civil service positions to be filled by open recruitment.

3. The advertisement inviting applications appeared in national newspapers in July. Over 120 applications were received from individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experience. A short-list for interview was drawn up and interviews took place in September.

4. This recruitment has enabled the FCO to ensure that the new Ambassador has the skills appropriate to the specific professional demands of the role. It is in line with the Government's policy of recruiting people with appropriate skills and experience from all areas of public life.

[Sam Gamgee]

I have always been very curious as to why I mostly see Catholic related posts on this board? Are there no Protestants on Free Republic? Just curious.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Cardinal welcomes new Ambassador to Holy See

Appointment ‘has broken with the unspoken assumption that the British representative to the Holy See should not be a Catholic’

The Archbishop of Westminster has described the appointment of Francis Campbell as the new British ambassador to the Holy See as “imaginative” and says it puts to an end the notion that the post was reserved to non-Catholics.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor described the young Catholic career diplomat from Northern Ireland as “an experienced diplomat who has worked with the Prime Minister” who was also “familiar with the language and the workings of the Catholic Church”.

When he presents his credentials to Pope Benedict XVI in December, the 35-year-old Campbell will be Britain’s first Catholic ambassador to the Holy See since the Reformation.

Relations between the UK and the Holy See were restored in 1914 after a break of 350 years. An apostolic delegate – nowadays a “papal nuncio” – was appointed in 1938 to represent the Holy See to Great Britain. Full diplomatic relations were restored in 1982 prior to Pope John Paul II’s visit to the UK.

Ever since a Foreign Office memo in 1917 which said Britain’s Vatican representative “should not be filled with an unreasoning awe of the Pope”, the British representative has been a Protestant, with a Catholic as deputy. This continued after 1982, when the post was raised to ambassadorial status.

The Foreign Office made clear recently, however, that there was no bar to a Catholic taking the post.

The spiritual leader of the Roman Catholics of England and Wales welcomed the evidence of this in the new appointment, which he said “has broken with the unspoken assumption that the British representative to the Holy See should not be a Catholic.”

The Holy See is the seat of government of the Catholic Church. Although the state in which it resides, Vatican City, is the world’s smallest, the Holy See is the hub of a global network of a billion people which leading nations regard as vital to world diplomacy.

CARDINAL STATEMENT IN FULL:

“I welcome the appointment of Francis Campbell as Britain’s ambassador to the Holy See. An experienced diplomat who has worked closely with the Prime Minister, Mr Campbell is also familiar with the language and the workings of the Catholic Church. This is an imaginative appointment which has broken with the unspoken assumption that the British representative to the Holy See should not be a Catholic.”

[freema]

I'd love to have heard the discussion between the Queen and Archbishop Williams about this appointment!

[ArrogantBustard]

the discussion between the Queen and Archbishop Williams

Her Majesty probably had to go to Stonehenge to find the Archdruibishop.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You'd have to pose that question to the Protestants.

[Sam Gamgee]

Just curious if Free Republic has any Protestants? Perhaps it just so happens that the only ones so far that have wanted to talk religion are Catholics. I guess I will never know short of doing a religious poll - or if I hear from any Protestants.

[NZerFromHK]

It happens that a lot of evangelicals post the Christian threads on the main or personal forums. This forum is almost exclusively the domain of Catholics, (Eastern) Orthodox, mainline Protestants and Reformed evangelicals (who almost line up with conservative Presbyterian beliefs).

[Sam Gamgee]

Oh Okay. That's good to know. Thanks

[Upbeat]

I'm an Evangelical(Arminian) who has found this forum to be very interesting and informative.

[Nihil Obstat]

What a great job -- hang out in Rome and the Vatican all the time. He's lucky to have it and he's only 35.

[NYer]

Perhaps it just so happens that the only ones so far that have wanted to talk religion are Catholics.

Chalk it off to Divine interviention :-). To which protestant denomination do you subscribe? There are many protestants at FR.

[NYer]

Mr Campbell is also familiar with the language and the workings of the Catholic Church.

Aaahh! A man who speaks 'vaticanese'. That will definitely work in his favor.

[Sam Gamgee]

I live in Canada and go to an Associated Gospel Church - a very small congregation. I'm not "married" to any particular Protestant church. I've been to Evangelical Free Churches, Baptist Churches, Gospel Churches, ect... Probably the only Protestant Church I would object to would be any that ordain gay ministers. And crazy Charismatic Churches - the music and people dancing in the aisles gives me a headache.

[redgolum]

We are here, but many of the more "vocal" posters got themselves banned about a year ago. It was pretty ugly, and the FR Religion forum had to have a house cleaning. Most of the other non Roman Catholics here don't post articles that much (for what ever reason). Just kind of how things fell out.

There are a few Baptist ping lists out there, HarleyD I think has one.

[bboop]

First, Catholics far out-number Protestants, so the ratios are against you. Second, many of us (former Prots) have crossed the Tiber. hmmmmmmmm. I have seen a number of thoughtful Protestant posts on FR, tho, don't despair. Same God and all that....

[theFIRMbss]

>First, Catholics far out-number Protestants, [?!] so the ratios are against you

------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States       14,347,027/Catholics       65,000,000/Protestants
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catholic Encyclopedia, Statistics of Religions

[theFIRMbss]

>I have always been very curious as to why I mostly see Catholic related posts on this board? Are there no Protestants on Free Republic

People always think
there are more Catholics than
there really are. It's

something to do with
Protestants keeping busy
with their real life, but

Catholics enjoy
public pomp, ceremony
and big theatrics.

It's a drama queen
kind of thing. I will get flamed,
of course, but they like

getting talked about.
Even if it's the Pythons
talking history:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

MR. HARRY BLACKITT: Look at them, bloody Catholics, filling the bloody world up with bloody people they can't afford to bloody feed.

MRS. BLACKITT: What are we dear?

MR. BLACKITT: Protestant, and fiercely proud of it.

MRS. BLACKITT: Hmm. Well, why do they have so many children?

MR. BLACKITT: Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.

MRS. BLACKITT: But it's the same with us, Harry.

MR. BLACKITT: What do you mean?

MRS. BLACKITT: Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice.

MR. BLACKITT: That's not the point. We could have it any time we wanted.

MRS. BLACKITT: Really?

MR. BLACKITT: Oh, yes, and, what's more, because we don't believe in all that Papist claptrap, we can take precautions.

MRS. BLACKITT: What, you mean... lock the door?

MR. BLACKITT: No, no. I mean, because we are members of the Protestant Reformed Church, which successfully challenged the autocratic power of the Papacy in the mid- sixteenth century, we can wear little rubber devices to prevent issue.

MRS. BLACKITT: What d'you mean?

MR. BLACKITT: I could, if I wanted, have sexual intercourse with you,...

MRS. BLACKITT: Oh, yes, Harry.

MR. BLACKITT: ...and, by wearing a rubber sheath over my old feller, I could insure... that, when I came off, you would not be impregnated.

MRS. BLACKITT: Ooh!

MR. BLACKITT: That's what being a Protestant's all about. That's why it's the church for me. That's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual and the individual's right to decide for him or herself. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in fifteen- seventeen, he may not have realised the full significance of what he was doing, but four hundred years later, thanks to him, my dear, I can wear whatever I want on my John Thomas,... [sniff] ...and, Protestantism doesn't stop at the simple condom! Oh, no! I can wear French Ticklers if I want.

MRS. BLACKITT: You what?

MR. BLACKITT: French Ticklers. Black Mambos. Crocodile Ribs. Sheaths that are designed not only to protect, but also to enhance the stimulation of sexual congress.

MRS. BLACKITT: Have you got one?

MR. BLACKITT: Have I got one? Uh, well, no, but I can go down the road any time I want and walk into Harry's and hold my head up high and say in a loud, steady voice, 'Harry, I want you to sell me a condom. In fact, today, I think I'll have a French Tickler, for I am a Protestant.'

MRS. BLACKITT: Well, why don't you?

MR. BLACKITT: But they-- Well, they cannot, 'cause their church never made the great leap out of the Middle Ages and the domination of alien episcopal supremacy.

NARRATOR #1: But, despite the attempts of Protestants to promote the idea of sex for pleasure, children continued to multiply everywhere. . . .

[Nihil Obstat]

"United States -
14,347,027/Catholics 65,000,000/Protestants"

Not to split hairs but those stats are from 1910.

I think the last numbers I saw had about 65,000,000 Catholics in the US. Still, there are more protestants than Catholics in the US.

[Romish_Papist]

Nah, that's not it. It's not that you keep busy with real life or that pomp and ceremony get in the way of our lives, it's just that when you have the fullness of the Truth (as we Catholics do) you spend considerably more time concerned with it as opposed to things of this world. ;)

[theFIRMbss]

>when you have the fullness of the Truth...you spend considerably more time concerned with it as opposed to things of this world

Believers Say Virgin Mary Statue Weeps Blood

Tear First Noticed Last Week

POSTED: 9:14 am PST November 23, 2005
UPDATED: 9:18 am PST November 23, 2005

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Believers say a statue of the Virgin Mary outside a California church appears to be crying a drop of blood.

The large, white statue is at the Vietnamese Catholic Church in Sacramento, Calif.

Parishioners first noticed the tear falling from the eye last Wednesday.

By Sunday morning, it had turned dark red.

Hundreds of people are coming to see the statue for themselves. Many say it's a sign from God.

The Archdiocese of Sacramento has been asked to investigate.

[theFIRMbss]

>Not to split hairs but those stats are from 1910 [?!]

Not sure what to say . . .
Here are the more up-to-date
numbers, and their link:

---------------------------------------------------------

Largest Religious Groups in the United States of America

Christians in the US (1990) = 151,225,000

Protestants in the US (53%, 2001) = 80,149,250

Catholics in the US (23%, 2001) = 34,781,750

(Pew Research Council percentages)

[Sam Gamgee]

It makes sense that Protestants outnumber Catholics as America was essentially founded on persecuted protestants fleeing the Roman Catholics and evil Anglican/Episcopalian bishops in England. I'm actually surprised the numbers are that high for Catholics.

[Sam Gamgee]

I don't want to get into a religious battle with Catholics. It is rather pointless. And we probably need to be united at this stage of the game.

But to be honest, I have little in common with Catholicism, and would like to discuss Christianity in more general terms.

I take it the ugliness was over Protestantism vs Catholicism?

[redgolum]

Specifically over relics. It was very nasty

[Sam Gamgee]

Yeah, I won't touch that one with a 10 foot pole. Maybe on a purely Protestant forum, but not here.

[Nihil Obstat]

Not to split hairs again, but those numbers were for adults only. But we get the idea...

Here's the breakdown from the site you referenced. This shows 2004 count for kids and adults.

Catholics: 71,796,719
Baptist: 47,744,049
Meth/Wesln: 19,969,799
Lutheran: 13,520,189
Presbyterian: 7,897,597
Pentecostal/Charismatic: 6,219,569
Episcopalian/Anglican: 4,870,373
Judaism: 3,995,371
LD Saints/Mormon: 3,806,258
Churches of Christ: 3,659,483
Congregational/UCC: 1,944,762
Jehovah's Witnesses: 1,878,431
Assemblies of God: 1,560,890

[Frank Sheed]

Today, December 1st, marks the martyrdom of St. Edmund Campion, British Jesuit, at Tyburn. This then is good news, A.A. I must ping my British colleague, Campion, on the news.

Cheers!
Francis

[Frank Sheed]

Not to worry. We'll convert you, God willing.

FS

[Sam Gamgee]

What is the difference between Anglican and Episcopalian? When I read histories of Reformation and CounterReformation England I hear both Anglican and Episcopalian. Are they one in the same? Or actually 2 seperate congregations?

[Petrosius]

The Episcopal [i.e. the Bishops'] Church it the American branch of the Anglican Communion. The name was changed after the American Revolution; it was not considered wise at the time to be called the Church of England!

[Sam Gamgee]

That does make sense. In Canada, we just have Anglican churches, and I have never heard of such a thing in the US. The fact that some Anglican churches in Canada want to ordain gay ministers makes more sense knowing that it was the Episcopalians that went through the controversy in the US.

Those that refer to the supporters of the Church of England in Cromwell's time as Episcopalians of course got me really confused.

[Nihil Obstat]

I can't help you there, Samwise. I think there is an Anglican ping list and someone from that will know all the nuances for sure.

[Mr. Lucky]

If everyone would simply join the one true church - the Missouri Synod - none of this would be a problem.

[Sam Gamgee]

Is that the Synod of the Lutheran church? My wife was part of the other Synod in Denver.

[theFIRMbss]

>simply join the one true church - the Missouri Synod

Tom sez: "Look into
my eyes: The one true church is
SCIENTOLOGY . . ."

[Mr. Lucky]

The Denver Synod is a subdivision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The Missouri Synod is a self-governing conference in and of itself. The ELCA has, in my opinion, lost it's moorings and is adrift in a sea of touchy-feely modernism. The Missouri Synod is a much more conservative church in theology and discipline.

The two churches are not affiliated.

[Sam Gamgee]

Yes, but we went to a more conservative Lutheran Church here in Canada, and they prevented me from taking Communion since I wasn't baptised a Lutheran. I found that over the top. Are we not all Christians? I can only assume they were the Missouri Synod.

I am sure there is some objection that the Denver Synod has female pastors. To be honest, the church seemed empty and impersonal. Maybe it was the size of the congregation - 3000 people. My wife's Lutheran grandma almost had a heart attack when my wife told her she was going to a non-Lutheran church. I don't understand that sort of spiritual elitism either.

[Sam Gamgee]

I agree that the touchy feely modernism gets me worried. I guess we can err both ways - excessive dogmatism or excessive liberalism.

[Mr. Lucky]

At some point in the mists of far distant history, congregations which are now affiliated with the Missouri Synod and churches which are now affiliated with the ELCA were in communion with one another; they have not been so for some time.

The ELCA may now permit open communion, but the Missouri Synod does not. We believe that our Savior is truly physically present in and with the bread and wine. Most Protestant churches do not share this belief (I don't know what the ELCA believes, as I left that church 30 years or so ago. I wanted to join the Roman Catholic Church, while Mrs. Lucky, then a Methodist forced a compromise).

[Sam Gamgee]

No, I don't share that belief.

I do object to the sort of open communion I witnessed in one Lutheran church. My belief is that communion is open to believers. I saw children of an age who could not possibly have made a choice for Christ taking communion with their parents. That is too free for me.

Yeah, I can see why religious discussions between various denominations could get a bit psychotic.

[Mr. Lucky]

A bit psychotic?

Next, you'll claim Helen Thomas is a bit ugly.