Posted on 10/22/2009 8:23:20 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
The welcoming of Anglican clergy into the Catholic Church highlights the differences, and difficulties, of approach Attack is the best form of defence. On the eve of another damning report on clerical abuse and cover-up in Ireland, that seems to be Pope Benedict’s tactic. His sudden invitation to Anglican defectors will certainly take the spotlight off a continuing child abuse scandal fed, for decades, by the masculine and intimidating structures of authority in the Catholic hierarchy. Words like “poaching” may seem harsh, but there is more than a whiff of power politics in this move. A “rush to Rome” would resolve Catholicism’s shortage of priests, win back some ancient church buildings annexed at the Reformation, and reduce Anglicanism to an anxious, liberal rump. Result! It is not, after all, so long since Catholics prayed weekly for “the conversion of England”.
But wavering clergy should beware. Apart from anything else, onlookers might accuse them of two opposing faults: an illiberal lack of elasticity over human beings — notably women and gays — yet a woefully pliable attitude to belief. Growing up as a Catholic in Protestant Britain, we were taught the differences between us. “We” believed in Papal infallibility; “they” didn’t, but reckoned the Queen was head of the Church. We were taught the weird doctrine of transubstantiation — the miraculous change of bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood. They regarded Communion as symbolic. However, they could believe in transubstantiation if they wanted, just as they could opt to join us in crediting Mary’s sinless Immaculate Conception and Assumption. To the beady schoolgirl eye, Anglicanism seemed free and easy after the corset of Catholic dogma; they could even choose high or low church, be evangelically dour or all a-tinkle with bells. Catholicism came in just one flavour. And their
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I just posted this on another thread, but know it will be relevant here as well so I am reposting.
I have to say something to the many people who I see on threads like these that take issue with a discipline of a church they do not belong to.
1. In Christian charity, attacks on the belief system of a fellow christian is unchristianlike. Rethink doing it. Your future posts lack credibility if you cannot refrain from bashing.
2. ANY abuse of children or the vunerable in society is an abomination, no matter who causes it. That includes clergy, teachers(who seem to do it way more), parents, relatives, little league coaches, boy scout leaders and any one else who gets off harming children. Attacking one group because you don’t like what they believe, minimizes the rest of the groups who are equally guilty of harming children. Methinks those who blame celibacy requirements have another agenda.
3. Celibacy does not cause homosexuality or pedophilia. If you believe that, you believe we are nothing more than animals who cannot CHOOSE to live a certain way, we are not in control of our own choices, and it advances the theory that we can act only on primal instinct instead of reason and logic. This is a slippery slope that must be avoided. Man IS responsible for acting on his impulses, and WILL be judged accordingly. By lessening the faculties of reason and free will, we are encouraging acting on bad behaviors and then justifying them with primal urges. How long until rape is justified by a man who just cant control themselves? Don’t give in on this, folks, the left is just waiting for it to happen so they can justify their deviant behaviors.
4. I have a dog in this fight lest you think its easy to say. My son is entering Catholic seminary next fall. I am losing the chance to have grandchildren from him, a daughter in law, and all the little niceties that other moms look forward to. Since my youngest son has an autistic spectrum disorder, I am not sure if he will ever be functioning enough to marry and have children. My husband is the only son in his family, so his name may end with him. I would still not change a thing, as a religious life IS a vocation and I am honored and humbled that God chose one of mine for the task.
We have enough to fight about without attacking things which do not even pertain to our own faith. I don’t go around picking on people who believe only in immersion, adult baptism, no sacraments etc. I debate, present my point, plant the seed and let God tend the garden.
Thats my 2 cents.
So you agree Alex?
“It is not, after all, so long since Catholics prayed weekly for “the conversion of England”.
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They would have done the world a favor is they prayed for the Submersion of England.
I don’t even like the Catholic theology and this article offends me. Thats pretty bad.
I can understand your concern, and your view that what another denomination does is not an outsiders concern. I would agree with you that this would certainly be the case for most denominations, but Rome’s influence is so strong that it has a way of affecting Christianity in general. When the world wants to attack Christianity, it often does this by attacking Rome. When the Roman Catholic Church reaches out to Anglican priests, you can be certain that it will create a controversy.
I studied in England, and I lived in an Anglican college for a few years. If I were Rome, I would be very careful in accepting Anglican priest. There is a high percentage of homosexual Anglican priests. I would also be skeptical that these Anglican converts are willing to accept all of Rome’s teachings. Rome is playing with fire, and she is setting herself up to be burned.
God bless you. Rather he has blessed you! You are like Samuel’s mother, you know.
This isn’t so much about people who are still in the mainstream of the Anglican Communion, such as Church of England/Espicopagan types, who are heterodox on women’s ordination and homosexual activity, but the traditionalists who left decades ago after they started “ordaining” women and set up their parallel structure.
Given the number of priests who are Episcopalian in all but name, maybe we should arrange a swap. We swap our gays priests for theirs who are not.
Beautiful post. May God Almighty bless you and your family in all ways.
Thank you for you and your family’s example of putting heavenly things ahead of earthly things. In God’s economy, this is the kind of investment that pays off, big time. May God shower grace on our seminarians.
>Converts may choke on raw meat of Catholicism
Tastes like Chicken
Throw a drowning man an anchor
I doubt this woman would have any use for an orthodox Calvinist or any Christian who actually believed in what the Scripture’s teach on matters of sexuality, marriage and the uniqueness of Christ.
Not all anti-Catholic screeds are on your side.
Great post. Thanks.
It’s from the TIMES. TIME to move on to another thread. LOL!
Not on Friday, they won’t.
It was my pleasure. Thanks to all who responded. Please keep my son in your prayers. Its a tough life.......but sublime :)
I visited a small seminary in Spokane, WA during the Serra Club Conference. Very traditional. The chapel was noble and simple at the same time. All the stations were in hand-card wood that the rector got from an order than was disbanding their motherhouse. Also the main wooden statues of Mary and Joseph.
Very simple and very reverent feeling. And it is full!
Very well said. Unfortunately, I doubt it will stop the sick of heart from their insanity.
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