The Desperate Archbishop

Archbishop Rowan Williams is a deeply spiritual man and no mean theologian, yet his understanding of what it means to be united in One Church is naive and simplistic to the point of being shocking. As someone else has said, "what planet is he on?" I have great respect for him, but, as I have found with other excellent Anglican writers and thinkers, there are a few gaping holes in his theological garments. Ultimately this is because he cannot think with The Church. I'm afraid it has to be said that where there is a break with the Petrine Office there is a lack of perception as to the truths of the Faith. His appeal to the Roman Catholic Church and to the Pope to think again about women priests and homosexuality has a ring of desperation about it, but it also shows how restoration of unity is impossible with those Anglicans who agree with him.

These things are not incidentals. His poor grasp of the importance of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and his inability to see how the moral teaching of the Church, based on Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition is part of that "seamless garment" which is the Catholic Faith makes me ask how long this (Anglican) situation can continue. This is a sad spectacle. Let's hope that good will come out of his meeting with the Pope - the successor of Peter, and that the light will begin to dawn in those areas of his mind and heart where there are shadows and poor understanding.

This may seem patronising, and I don't mean it to be. I am simply trying to understand how such a wise and holy man is "unable to see the wood for the trees".

Retreating

I shall be in Chicago over the coming week-end helping to give a retreat on the theme of The Sacred Heart. Whilst there, I shall also be praying for those Anglicans and Episcopalians who are asking themselves (and the good Lord) how they can move forward in relation to the Roman Catholic Church. I know that the retreatants, who are ALL committed to the cause of Christian Unity, will also be praying for our brothers and sisters in the Anglican communities and parishes. Whatever happens and however individuals and groups begin to plan ahead, I know that all of us on the retreat will be asking God's blessings on everyone.

To those who are looking for some kind of vision of unity, I recommend the writings known as "True Life in God". I met a Welsh Anglican some years ago (a priest) who was reading them. He was struggling with some of the things he found there, but told me that he could not deny that the one who was speaking through these writings is the same one who is preseent when he celebrates the Eucharist. Many others, Anglicans, Lutherans, Catholics and others have found great inspiration and comfort in these messages. See the links on the right for more information.

Global Warming or Global Cooling?

Now here's an interesting article on "Global Cooling" Are we getting too warm or not? I have long suspected that the warnings about Global Warming were not only exaggerated but actually wrong. This takes me back to the 1970's when I was in major seminary. I was alone one Friday evening in the T.V. room watching a frightening documentary on what was going to happen to the world in the 1980's. I took it to heart, and actually began a prayer group (four of us) to pray and study around this coming catastrophe. I bought books on the environment and took an interest in people like the late Barbara Ward and the ex-priest Ivan Illich. I studied Anthropology at Durham (as part of a General Arts course) and as I did so, the environment was part of my thinking.


Later, after I was ordained, I lost interest in all of this (although I was still concerned about rain forests etc - and got there before Sting, I might add). Nothing much happened in the '80's, and then we were told that the computer models were wrong! I know all about the dangers of crying wolf and not being open to new possibilities, but I never really believed that so-called global warming was that bad. I read up on it a little and I am aware that the number of scientists now disagreeing with the concept has actually doubled. This article sheds some light on the alternative theories which have not gone away and are still worth considering. At the moment in Britain we are having a relatively mild October, but I understand this will not last. Don't throw your wellies away yet, and keep that snow-shovel handy.

A Case of very Bad reporting

It seems that the Bishop of Chichester has been misquoted and misunderstood by the Telegraph. This has caused much embarrassment. I was careful to say of the report, "If this is true". It is not true. I was alerted to this example of very bad reporting by Atonement Online At this very sensitive time we can do without this kind of thing. I don't know which reporter is responsible but I hope he has the humility to apologise and correct his mistake (some hopes!)

Bishops' About to Move?

Apparently (according to the Sunday Telegraph), the Bishop of Chichester (above) and the Bishop of Fulham have declared their willingness to become Roman Catholic priests. If this is really true, and it happens, it will mark a historic turning-point in the history of Christianity in Great Britain. These two men, and particularly the first, have a substantial following amongst Anglican clergy and we could expect a reasonably large number of them to follow the bishops. Just how much this would affect lay people is far too early to say, but these are extraordinary times and we could be watching something momentous.

Early Anglican Responses

The Bishop of Chichester's speech at the Forward in Faith Conference is worth a listen. Some ex-Anglican (now Catholic) blogs are expressing disappointment, but as the Bishop says, these are "very early days", and we shouldn't expect a mass movement of Anglo-Catholics to Rome, certainly not at this stage. The full text of the provision has not been seen yet! People need time to catch their breath. One of the problems for Catholic Anglicans is that some arrangement is "on the table" to allow them greater freedom under the Anglican umbrella. As the Bishop says, it is not enough, but neither does he think the Vatican's response is enough, but then, as he says, he has not seen all the details.

However discussions continue (and quite a few Anglicans are no doubt on the net, sending emails and phoning each other), it has to be said that The Roman Catholic Church is not going to change those dogmas defined either by Council or by the Popes as "infallible". Some non-Catholics think that certain dogmas are negotiable. They are not. having said that, it is important to understand them correctly. One of the least well-understood is precisely that of Papal Infallibility. A good bit of history, as well as theology, is needed for a balanced and mature grasp of what it means. We have to shove aside much anti-Catholic propaganda and many half-truths. What many Anglicans need are good, well-informed Catholic friends who can answer questions. Above all they need space and our prayers.

The Pope of Christian Unity?

I was at the new Carmelite Monastery (new building that is) at Thicket Priory near York, when I heard the news about the Anglican provision offered by Pope Benedict. I was deeply moved and thank God for this wonderful grace. I saw on one "Anglican Use" blog (from the U.S.A.) that this Pope is being called "The Pope of Christian Unity". What a wonderful thought, and how fitting it is that this should be his special mission following Pope John Paul the Great. What could be a better or more fitting follow-up to the last pontificate?

Of course, not to be too starry-eyed, there is still much work to do with the Russian Orthodox and with some other Eastern Christian communities, but the great work begun by Pope Paul VI, the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, and the much revered Archbishop Michael Ramsey, and especially taken up by the late JP11 and others such as the Romanian Patriarch, is bearing much fruit in our own day. My prayer, regularly, is, "Lord, grant Christian Unity in our day". Deo Gratias.