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Leo XIII's decision on the Anglican Orders

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=6237

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=6298

In the midst of its current crisis, the Anglican Communion can also forsee a future one - when Prince Charles becomes King and head of the church. Should be interesting considering he can't even get re-married in his own church.

I know, that's kind of laughable, isn't it. After all, Henry VIII got remarried in his own church - several times!

As a British citizen and subject of Her Majesty the Queen, indeed as a resident theology undergraduate at Oxford University, the heart historical heart of Anglicanism my view is this: The Church of England has been dying of terminal illness since the reign of Elizabeth I. It will not die out because there are, for the moment, enough feminist, pro-gay etc.etc. people who will join it and support it. Moreover, its the established church of this country and so people have a sentimental link with the Church they were baptised into. This will gurantee its survival, at least here. How it will survive and what form its surival will take is another story. Sooner or later the die hard 'Bible Christians' will leave. Thats a foregone conclusion. On the other hand the liberal party will eventually assume complete control of the Anglican communion and moderates will most likely convert to Orthodoxy or Catholicism depending on who gets in there first. Sooner or later the Anglicans will realise that without an ecclessiology they wont survive. The Tractarians realised this in the 19th century but Pusey and Keble were willing in the end to settle to be heads of yet another party. Only Newman realised that in truth the 'Via Media' is a mere fantasy.

This article by Anglican theologian David Farrow is a good discussion of issues for the future: http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0501/opinion/farrow.htm

It is helpful. Thank you Fr. Mike.

I will repeat my request for prayers for the people in the Anglican communion. I do know some who are deeply hurt by all the wrangling in that church, and would like to see peace restored.

Friends:

I have been away attending a racial reconciliation conference and have just now looked at the comments.

I need to think and pray about how I will respond. I'll just say that I think the responses thus far have come from right of center folks and some folks who like to put down those outside the official Roman Catholic Church.

Blessings,


Fr. Mike

I for one think that this is a very sad situation.

The Anglican Communion was at one time held in high esteem.

I came from the Anglican Church . There was / is much good there , but I do feel it necessary to state that now they have great problems.

This should be acting as a warning to us all .

Prayers for all members of the Anglican Communion

Dear Father Mike,

I do not want to sound hostile or uncharitable here but I don't know how to put this and be "politically correct". I really don't think you will find ANY Roman Catholic who would knowingly accept the ordination of a practicing homosexual to any ministerial office. Maybe some who lean to the far, far, left.........so far to the left that they would be Catholic in name only.

I apologize for my bluntness, Bill

Fr. Mike:

I serve families every day that are torn by differences that tear them apart. Sometimes the scars last a lifetime.

It pains me to see this played out in a group of Christ's followers. Please see the prayer that I posted for the unity of all Christians under the thread about the icon gift to Pope John Paul II from diplomats from predominantly Orthodox countries. Sometimes it becomes necessary to repeat it in our own houses. All of us have internal disputes that threaten to tear us apart. And, like court fights that only seem to benefit the legal representatives, the only winner in disputes that tear apart groups of Christians is our common Enemy.

In Christ,

BOB

An Orthodox monk from England who used to post here was very dismayed by the denial of the literal Resurrection of Christ over there--and how some marginal Greek Orthodox members that he knew had been influenced by this (it being their prevaling culture) and were denying it too.

I loved the Anglican/Episcopalian church of my uncle, aunt and cousins. I loved the Mass, the pagentry, the beautiful churches, etc. My uncle was one of those ( a Sunday School teacher all his life) that left with the ordination of women. Ofcourse, that was only the beginning.....

I feel bad, because it is such a beautiful church, and (Greek) Orthodoxy in this country felt so close to it at one time.

In all fairness, there are conservatively adhering Christians in all faith traditions and non-conservatively/innovative Christians in all faith traditions. No one is immune to official apostasy,(although apostasy exists in the hearts of some in all denominations/faith traditions) but all it seems to take is that first break with holy tradition.

In Christ,
Alice