An Orderly Account

About the Name

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph’ilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. -- Luke 1:1-4

Relax, I know I’m not writing the New Testament here, but I will try to follow a few things closely. — Dick Sandlin

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Features

Pope Offers Olive Branch to Anglo-catholics

Pope Benedict XVI has authorized an Apostolic Constitution (a formal canonical framework) which would offer Anglo-Catholics (members of the Anglican Communion who have a catholic orientation) and their clergy an opportunity to re-affiliate with the See of Peter. For a full explanation of this announcement, see the post titled O Brave New World! on The Anglican Curmudgeon’s blog.

Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) Rowan Williams, left, from the Anglican Communion responds to the announcement and Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, right, from the Roman Catholic Church, looks on during a news conference in London. Is it just me or does the ABC seem a little less than enthusiastic?

Ruth Gledhill of The Times Online, in an article titled Rome Parks Tanks on Rowan’s Lawn, offers more videos and a copy of the letter that the ABC sent to his bishops.

Just in:(10/28/9) The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights published a story on Oct. 28th, titled MAJOR NEWSPAPERS BLAST CATHOLICISM, that points to articles in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Boston Globe that attacked the Church on it’s offer to Anglicans (described above) and it’s position on women and gay clergy. The Washington Post‘s blog, On Faith, recently featured an interview about the Pope’s offer with outspoken English atheist Richard Dawkins, titled Give us your misogynists and bigots, where he said that the Catholic Church was, “surely up there among the leaders” as “the greatest force for evil in the world.” You should read it on Christopher Johnson’s blog midwest conservative journal because he did a really good “fisking” of the whole thing. (Fisking is taking apart statements piece by piece and revealing the fallacies and idiocy of the statements - thanks to my wife, Connie.)

Just In: (11/4/9) The Vatican has today released the formal document establishing the Personal Ordinariates and the rules for their use. My simplistic overview is this: the Holy Father is using his authority to invite Anglicans to reunite with the “mother church” by building a special compartment for them that lets them keep their parishes, and maybe even dioceses, essentially just as they are now. Only Anglicans may take advantage of this offer and current Catholics are not allowed to join the Anglican groups. Inside the compartment, Anglican priests and deacons may become Catholic priests and deacons (but those who are unmarried will have to stay that way) and unmarried Anglican bishops may become the presbyter (i.e., bishop) of an Ordinariate (i.e., a diocese within the compartment). Married Anglican bishops will have to return to being priests, but they can be Ordinaries of an Ordinariate and retain their badges of office (e.g., crosiers) and they can petition the Holy Father to become bishops on a case-by-case basis. This delicate balancing act permits the Anglicans to have what they want, while at the same time maintaining the status quo with the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman tradition. I think it is brilliant!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/20 at 10:16 PM