TAC Bishops Are Beginning To Think The Grass May Not Be GREENER On The Other Side Of The Tiber

It maybe the thought of giving up the 'Old Vicarage' is too much for Traditional Anglican clergy.

Thousands of Anglican churchgoers could cross over to Rome with Bishops.

By Martin Beckford - Telegraph .co.uk - 05/03/2010

Thousands of Anglican parishioners could convert to Catholicism after three leading traditionalist bishops told the Vatican they were ready to cross over to Rome.

Churchgoers in almost 300 parishes that disapprove of women priests may take advantage of Pope Benedict XVI’s offer to change denomination if their “flying bishops” lead the way.
However the Church of England is expected to make a last-ditch attempt to stop the disillusioned groups leaving, by offering them concessions over the introduction of female bishops. (Given today's climate in Catholicism this is kind of funny. The one thing we can say with certainty about sexually abusing priests is they were all male.)

As The Sunday Telegraph disclosed, the bishops of Fulham, Richborough and Ebbsfleet held a secret meeting with papal advisers last week to discuss plans for Anglicans to convert to the Roman Catholic Church en masse. (Secret meetings seem to be the one thing the Vatican does most. I would say does best, except they never stay secret and the Vatican never learns.)

At least one key member of the English Catholic church’s commission on the Anglican Ordinariate – the Pope’s move to allow Anglicans to enter into full communion with the Holy See while retaining some of their spiritual heritage – was in Rome at the same time.

The Church of England clergy who held talks with members of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are “flying bishops”, who provide “episcopal oversight” to parishes that cannot accept women priests.

If they cross the Tiber and the move is seen as successful, their parishioners are expected to follow suit eventually as it is not clear that the "flying bishops" would be replaced. There are 268 parishes under the care of the three bishops, with an average 50 lay members in each as well as hundreds of priests.

A leading Anglo-Catholic said: “If it all comes off, it will start off small but grow. On day one 30 or 40 priests will leave with some of their people. They’re the brave ones who set off into the unknown.” (It's more likely that these priests are the ones who are most assured they will take enough of their parish to support them in their accustomed manner. Hardly bravery.)

Anglican clergy who resign their priestly orders, even those who are married, could become Catholic priests under the terms of the unprecedented “poaching” offer made last year. (No, officially this is a generous ecumenical move.)

However not all of the traditionalists in the Church of England will cross over, as some will feel unable to accept the more rigid structure of the Catholic church or the power of the Pope.
In addition, many may be persuaded to stay in July when the General Synod, the Church of England’s governing body, holds a critical meeting to decide how to make the historic step of ordaining women bishops.

Detailed plans – due to be published this month – are unlikely to include substantial provisions for traditionalists who oppose female leadership in the church but Synod could alter the plans in order to prevent an exodus of Anglo-Catholics. (What the Synod has to decide is who is really using who in this situation in order to score points.)

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Here's an excerpt from an article on the Times Online which truthfully states where the rubber will meet the road on the issue of Anglican clergy transferring to Rome:

The number who leave is not expected to be as great as had been feared. A recent conference at Pusey House, Oxford, on the Pope’s offer, regarded as “sheep-stealing” by some Anglicans, was told that traditionalists who sought communion with Rome were as likely to choose the usual route of full conversion as go to the Ordinariate.

The Rev Philip North, Team Rector of Old St Pancras, London, told the conference that the opportunities for mission would be reduced in the Ordinariate because “we have the furniture of the Church of England”, which occupied a legal and cultural role. (literally)

This was part of the nation’s self-understanding, responsible for whole communities.
According to the Church Times, clergy in the Ordinariate would have to be in secular employment because the Roman Catholic Church could not raise the money — £64,000 in the case of Father North in London — to keep them in a house and stipend. Father North said that the Ordinariate could become irrelevant: “If we reach a point where staying is not an option, then traditional conversion is far more likely to offer the kind of enrichment and ministry that we know now.” (Which means they will then be able to take over existing Catholic parishes with their rectories rather than rely on Traditional Anglicans to foot their bill.)

The success of the Ordinariate will depend on what happens as the legislation is debated and amended. Key to the process will be the code of practice to cater for opponents to women bishops. It will be voluntary but will have considerable “moral” force. (I suspect the key will be where the real estate option is better.)

Although it will not go as far as many want, a code of practice is likely to keep most Anglo-Catholics within the Church of England, given that if they left they would have to find secular employment to give them an income, as well as find a home for themselves, and their family if married.

Many Anglo-Catholics minister in areas of London such as Fulham and Kensington where property prices are high. At present they enjoy large vicarages and rectories, courtesy of the established Church. (so much for giving up all to follow their Lord and defend their version of the Apostolic tradition.)

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I wish Rowan Williams would come out and say these so called Traditional Anglican bishops are as morally bankrupt as he said of their Irish Catholic counterparts. He could also point out the Vatican has been as morally bankrupt in their ecumenical opportunism, but of course he won't.

That's the nice thing about blogging from the margins with no real power. I have the freedom to call a spade a spade. This is starting to look more like a bunch of spiritually stagnant misogynists throwing a temper tantrum. When it comes to putting their money where their mouth is, compromise will be the better option than moral certitude. I'm sure we will be made to understand it's about supporting their dependent wives and children and that's the greater moral good.

My retort to that bit of moral reasoning is if your theology didn't make your wives so damn dependent you wouldn't have to compromise your 'moral' stance. OR.....is this really as much about losing your episcopal independence to Rome as it is your housing?