In A Muddle

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I’ve said before that the Anglican Church needs to get itself organised. Compared to the Catholic Church, whose tenets are virtually set in stone, the Church of England seems to have been in a muddle for many years with various groups agonising over homosexuality, women priests, women bishops, etc., etc.

Recent elections to the Anglican General Synod seem to have strengthened the grip of the traditionalists who oppose women bishops. Whether they will be able to block plans to consecrate women bishops and slow down the move in some quarters to convert to Catholicism remains to be seen.

Last October, Pope Benedict offered a place in the Roman Catholic Church for Anglicans opposed to women bishops that would let them retain some of their practices and traditions. So far, four Anglican bishops have taken up the offer, and recently an entire Anglican congregation in Kent became the first to convert en bloc.

It will be interesting to see how things develop.
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An Ecstatic Reception

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It’s interesting to note how the media has changed its tune about the Pope’s visit to Britain.

Before his arrival, they were dismissive of its purpose and critical about its cost. Given the warm, crowded and rapturous welcome he has been given everywhere he has been, the media now applauds not only his visit but many of the things he has had to say.

It was fascinating to see the Pope praying with Archbishop Williams, amidst clouds of incense, at the tomb and shrine of Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey on Friday evening. At times, the panoply of the Church of England seemed to be more ‘High Church’ than that of Rome. Nonetheless, it was an uplifting occasion, and the spontaneous round of applause that greeted the Pope as he left the Abbey was wonderful to behold and also told much about the public’s view of his visit.

And who could fail to have been uplifted by the joyous and enthusiastic welcome given by over two thousand of Britain’s children to the Pope after he left Westminster Cathedral yesterday. Representing every parish in the country, the Pope was most obviously delighted by those children as they cheered and clapped him - children and young people that put the lie to what many may see as the present ‘yoof’ culture.

This Pope may not have the outward personality of his predecessor, but he makes his words count, as for example something that particularly rang with me: ‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere. There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.’

Today his Holiness will hold a Mass in Birmingham, attended by thousands of Catholics, in which he will beatify Cardinal John Newman which will take him one step closer to becoming a saint. Cardinal Newman, who died in 1890, was an Anglican academic and priest who converted to Catholicism. His beatification follows a proven miracle attributed to him and, if another is proved later on, he will become England's first non-martyred saint since before the Reformation.

The Pope’s visit has shown very clearly that there are still people who follow a creed and who are prepared to turn out and be counted as its supporters.
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Reconciliation?

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Last week the President of the Methodist Conference gave an address to the Church of England’s General Synod. In it he said that seeking the Kingdom of God should be considered more important than the continued existence of individual Churches.

It was an astonishing message. The Methodists were prepared to forge an alliance with the Anglicans if that was thought the best way forward. Indeed there are many that, in the light of falling congregations, feel the two Churches would achieve more if they pooled their resources.

There are sticking points, of course. For example, the Methodists don’t believe in bishops and some high-church Anglicans have strong views about the ordination of women. It is an interesting situation, especially as some Anglo-Catholics are threatening to leave the Church of England if it proceeds with plans to consecrate women as bishops (itself a hurdle to a reconciliation with the Methodists).

‘Seeking the Kingdom of God should be considered more important than the continued existence of individual Churches.’ It is a very powerful message.

I wonder how long then it will take before an Archbishop of Canterbury seeks a reconciliation with a Pope?
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Getting Closer? Doubtful!

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Some Anglicans are getting concerned about the Church’s attitude to gay or women bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions. At the same time the Catholic Church is considering allowing Anglicans to convert, which would allow them to enter full communion with them but preserving some elements of Anglican traditions.

The ‘smells and bells’ section of the Anglican Church are usually drawn to Catholicism while the ‘happy-clappy’ section may look to the Evangelicals. Could a schism be in sight I wonder?

Archbishop Williams has discussed the issue with Pope Benedict. It would have been an interesting discussion but I doubt we will hear much about what was really said.

I’d love to have been a fly on the wall that day!
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