Anglo-Catholics and a bit of honesty
The “flying bishop” of Ebbsfleet, Andrew Burnham, has decided to write an article for the Catholic Herald suggesting that many Anglo-Catholics may and perhaps should leave for Rome, after the vote in favour of women as bishops, and the vote against creating a perpetual enclave of those who won’t accept them.
I would describe myself as a Catholic within the Anglican tradition, and I don’t for a minute share the assumption that to be catholic is to fit this pattern.
I would like to note, however, that Andrew Burnham has said openly, at a meeting I’ve been at, that he normally uses the (Roman Catholic) breviary for his daily prayer, and that many (most?) of the churches for which he is charged with “alternative” (read “no women”) oversight use the Roman Mass.
In what sense, we might genuinely ask, are they Anglican at all, if they don’t think the official Anglican forms of prayer are good enough for them? Well, like Bishop Burnham, many of them have wives (a slight snag in Roman terms), and not a few of those that don’t have boyfriends (another snag, at least in theory).
The current definition of a “traditionalist Anglo-Catholic” it seems to me, is someone who can joyfully and exuberantly disobey their bishop in the name of the Pope, but has absolutely no desire to start obeying the Pope instead of their bishop. Their dilemma is that they regularly pray the Eucharistic prayer of a Church that believes they are unable (because not real priests) to pray that prayer, while they refuse to pray the common Eucharistic prayer of the Church that has ordained them precisely so that they may gather people to pray it.
That way madness lies.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Doug,
What about Anglo-Metacatholics?
I honestly tried to come up with something witty, but I couldn’t. That was bad even for a lame pun.
If your flock expressed a strong desire to join the Roman Church or be under the authority of Peter Akinola, what would you do?
-JAK
July 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Doug,
I am an ordinand in an Australian diocese where “traditional” anglo-catholics use the Roman missal and Roman breviary on a daily basis (including my Bishop). I am a catholic in the Anglican tradition. I am called to be a priest in the Anglican church, yet I feel very keenly the dishonesty in denying the position of the Anglican prayer book by those who call themselves catholic in our tradition. With all that is going on both on an international and local level (read: GAFCON etc.), it is the one aspect of MY church that embarrasses me.
I hear and feel the same pain, and stand with you in Anglican prayer book collegiality.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I once had the local Anglican priest (now a bishop) and his wife over for a BBQ some years ago. (I am a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia — think the Church of Scotland married to the Methodists, and you get some idea of what we did!) He was sadly ruminating that Rome didn’t recognise his orders, and I was almost speechless. I reminded him that his Church didn’t recognise mine — he hadn’t thought about that! Needless to say, he was quite embarrassed. Doesn’t get my orders recognised by his Church though.
Feels like that cartoon of a big fish swallowing a littler fish who is swallowing an even smaller fish. I’m the even smaller one!
July 11th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I love your definition of a trad. Anglo-Catholic. Wityy, elegant and quite true!
“The current definition of a “traditionalist Anglo-Catholic” it seems to me, is someone who can joyfully and exuberantly disobey their bishop in the name of the Pope, but has absolutely no desire to start obeying the Pope instead of their bishop.”
July 11th, 2008 at 9:28 am
that should read ‘witty’
July 11th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Perhaps I should have added, to be more on topic — though a Uniting Church minister, I am a member of Affirming Catholicism.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Spot on.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
When I think of a model Anglo-Catholic these days, Desmond Tutu comes to mind.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:16 am
But have you read what the same Bishop Andrew Burnham has written on his own website, at http://www.ebbsfleet.org.uk/gs0807a.htm and http://www.ebbsfleet.org.uk/sacsyn08.htm ? (Thanks to my commenter Chris for the links.) There seems to be some lack of consistency in his position.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Funny, aint it? “Catholic church” means a universal church and therefore an inclusive church yet I am banned from sharing bread and wine in a roman catholic service. In the Anglican communion we welcome all at our altar rails. So, is “roman catholicism” an oxymoron?
Happy to say I’ve been welcomed in the only two Orthodox churches I’ve attended when on holiday.
I say I am an Anglo-catholic because I believe in the incarnation of Christ and the Trinity (for which read Dorothy L Sayers’s “The Mind Of The Maker” for the best analogies I’ve read or heard so far of how the Trinity works), and that God’s praise should be frequent & combined with true thanksgiving hence I prefer to worship at Eucharist services as often as I can, and they cannot be too often. Eucharists should be as ornate as possible to show our gratitude to Him and maximising symbolism to re-inforce our understanding of what He is. Plus, of course, with as much congregational participation as can be mustered.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:39 am
If you remember it was only in the Nineteenth that the phrase `Roman Catholic` originated to distinguish us from Anglo-Catholics can we drop both terms. To be Catholic is to affirm the Creeds and accept the Scriptures all Christians are in some way Catholic as it is affirmed in the section of the Creed relating to the Holy Spirit. I feel at times looking over at the Anglican Battle I feel pity for you all and ask the question `Is this Christianity?` The Early Church was famed for the way they loved one another, although there are always problems but can there be find ways around the problems. I see the problem others see one as `Other` and not Christian. By the way I agree with a comment when I think of a Catholic I think of Desmond Tutu he belongs to the Church, perhaps he can be persuaded by Rowan Williams to intervene over the Gafcon problem. If he couldn`t sort it out no one can.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
They are strange but why not let them have their wayward ways. What harm does it do? Why do they have to be forced into a uniformed way of behaving. What is so great about obeying Bishops? I like the way they refuse to go to Rome because it will invalidate their orders. So what if some of them are gay? I dislike the sly way people have a dig at them for their sexual orientation. I like the way their parishes seem to be in the tougher parts of London. I don’t agree with them, but I’m going to miss them when they go.