One very telling comment which has stuck in my mind so clearly, was asked by a Catholic Bishop at the U.S. Bishops' Conference back in June. When speaking of future parish communities in the Ordinariate, he asked Cardinal Wuerl, "What if one of my people stumbles into one of these parishes, and likes it?" To which Cardinal Wuerl replied "It hasn't been a problem up until now." This sums up both the stupidity and non-pastoral nature of some of these characters with whom we have to do.
The establishment of the ordinariate will just be the beginning. Whoever the ordinary turns out to be, the estimable Fr. Steenson or one of the other worthy candidates, he will have his work cut out for him, as will all the brave souls planting Anglican Use churches within dioceses headed by the many deeply suspicious, sometimes downright hostile, bishops in the U.S.C.C.B. They might take at least some solace, however, knowing they will be having a better time of it than their counterparts in England.
1 comment:
That article by Damian Thompson linked to is rubbish. He has a bone to pick with the English bishops and uses every opportunity to run things down. Some will say that the same thing is also said in the Catholic Herald. But of course, since Damian Thompson also is an editor there!
Instead of being positive and trying to help the Ordinariates, all he has done is foster distrust and animosity because a lot of Catholic communities have welcomed their new brothers and sisters from the CoE and all they hear is how badly these new Catholics are being treated. It's enough to make anyone resentful about the Ordinariate. What Damian needs to do is to wind his neck in and shut up.
If I want to know what is really going on, I'd read posts from Fr Edwin Barnes, once the Bishop of Richborough, and other priests who have taken up the Pope's offer and know first hand how things are going, than someone like Damian who thinks he knows whats going on.
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