www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Episcopi Vagantes and consacrating Bishops outside the Church

Dear Cantor Joseph,

I'm VERY sorry to hear that!

Perhaps, at another time, the opportunity may present itself and you may feel inclined to follow it.

God bless, Big Guy!

Alex

Bless, Father Don and Christian,

Yes, my own view is that there are vaganti and then there are vaganti.

I don't like that term but there are those who would probably deserve it.

I've met a number of those in the independent movement who have inspired me greatly - and continue to do so in a number of cases.

These seem to be more intent, as Father Don says, on teaching the man in the street (ie. me) about religious commitment and life.

And I think they've done a great job in using the internet.

So God uses these people and groups too!

Alex

Nope. Nada. Nyet. All water under the bridge. Can't stand all the smoke blowing up ...

Joe

Dear Cantor Joseph,

But remember what happened to St Augustine when he didn't want to be a priest, but literaly had his "hands tied" in the matter . . .

And I'm sure he must have felt he was at the end of his rope . . .

I may yet send you your episcopal consecration in a bottle

God bless and see y'a after Florida!

Alex

I also think many vagant priests and bishops are good people who do their best effort to live in a Christian environment. And I also share Don's feeling, that canonical Churches have failed in reaching the common man.

Chauvinism and a lack of missionary spirit often exists within canonical Orthodoxy. Burocracy, endless paperwork, etc. are common in the Catholic Church, discouraging ministers from these groups to join the Church and regularize their status.

Now Canonical Church often faces problems when it's about how to receive vagante groups. Among many Old Catholics (in the USA) it's hard to know if groups who trace their origins to Old Catholics have real Apostolic Succession because of their contacts with Anglicans and the irregular consacrations that followed no unity or order. Regarding the Aftimios line consacrations it's hard to know if they followed the rules and the fact that in addition to those Bishops and priests who kept the Orthodox faith and still hold it, he also consacrated and ordained unworthy men whose communities hold heretical ideas and perform sacrilegous practices.

Same is true for the Thuc line communitis, such as the Palmar de Troya sect.