Monday, July 14, 2008

Will Forward in Faith UK take up the challenge?

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8622

[VirtueOnline] 14 Jul 2008--The Report of the Legislative Drafting Group (LDG) otherwise known as the Manchester Committee had identified several structures that could have gone some way in preserving the interests of traditionalists, the best of which undoubtedly was the establishment of several non-geographical dioceses which would have been superimposed on existing diocesan C. of E. dioceses. This proposal was rejected by the House of Bishops at its earlier meeting and was therefore not included in the draft substantive motion presented for consideration by General Synod members at the start of the debate.

Canon Simon Kilwick of the Catholic Group of the Synod and a member of Forward in Faith moved an amendment that sought to provide new dioceses for traditionalists. In another, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds wanted the LDG when it met in the future to consider in addition to a code of practice, a scheme that would include a statutory transfer of specified responsibilities (i.e. by complementary or "super" bishops). But both these amendments were rejected, and so the final substantive motion when eventually adopted was little changed from the original draft. The liberal majority had had its way and minimum provision in the form of a statutory code of practice was imposed on traditionalists, a code that does little to calm their fears now or in the future.

When the LDG meets between now and next February to decide on a statutory national code of practice, it will find that its hands are tied by rejection in the Synod of relevant amendments. Thus it will be unable to insert into a code anything resembling new structures such as non-territorial dioceses; and it will be debarred from proposing any transfer of delegated responsibilities to traditionalist-friendly bishops.

Anglican catholics have identified SIX CHARACTERISTIC that define their clergy.

These are:-
* Acts of Collegiality
* Oaths of Allegiance
* Sacramental Assurance
* Unwillingness to Participate in Sacramental Acts with Suspect Clergy
* Control of Parishes
* Authority of Bishops to Ordain & Consecrate.

For these reasons as well as those in the previous paragraph, a code of practice is a non-starter. Traditionalists should not waste any time in thinking that the LDG will be able to square the circle.

What many find distressing is the note of triumphalism in the public utterances of the pro-women bishops supporters when the outcome of the General Synod debate had become generally known. Humility seemed to be lacking. Hardly at all did one detect a generosity of spirit to traditionalists. Better for such people to accept what's on offer was the unspoken demand of the liberals, or get out of the C. of E.

No comments: