The day of the dissolution of the Anglican Communion moves ever closer as certain bishops continue to move further and further from orthodox Christianity. To wit, gay priests in the Church of England will be allowed to register in the country’s new civil partnership laws, if they pledge to abstain from sex. And I have a very reasonably priced bridge in Brooklyn to sell, too.
The bishops claim that the law leaves them no choice but to allow gay priests to register under the law. Why? Because the church would be accused of discrimination because it allows heterosexual priests to marry? For one thing, this is an argument for a celibate priesthood and for exclusing gays from the priesthood. It’s also an argument in favor of separation of church and state.
Some bishops are balking at the proposal, but not for what you’d think. In order to register, the priest would have to be interviewed by his bishop and some bishops don’t like that idea.
One said this weekend "the Truth” has nothing to do with the decision.
Gay men should have the same privilege as homosexual men – to marry someone of the OPPOSITE sex.
See? No discrimination. Everyone has identical rights.
I can solve lots of other problems, too. Just ask.
You really have to shake your head at these people. And let’s not forget, they have alot of fellow travelers in the Catholic hierarchy in America, too.
I have to wonder if they really do believe that homosexuality is ok, or is that they just lack the fortitude to fight the Gay Wave?
It’s just insane.
>>why they don! Sorry; ‘partner’). There was no sense of irony in it and, though I looked closely, I couldn’t detect any significant growth in his nose.
The Anglican Church under Rowan Williams reminds me more and more of that story about the little boy who called out to the Emperor – ‘but you aren’t wearing any clothes!
“It not to get emotional. What a terrific liturgy.
But one shouldn’t assume that by going East, or to the Anglican Use mass, you’ll escape problems. There is a Maronite pastor I know of who is rather heterodox, especially on matters lavender; if I were in his parish, I’d be … not in his parish anymore. As far as the Anglican Use liturgy, here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, there’s an AU parish that I thought would be the answer to my own difficulties finding a good place to go to mass. it sure seemed that way … until it came out that the pastor had put into ministry a priest against whom an abuse accusation had been lodged in Pennsylvania, but not resolved one way or another. The pastor did not tell his parish about the priest’s past, nor did he tell his bishop. He decided that the only people who needed to know were his inner circle. This was all post-scandal in Boston.
By the way, this—
The secular media, greedy legal sharks, and the Voice of the Faithless dissenters have successfully demonized Cardinal Law here in Boston.
—is ridiculous. Cardinal Law has successfully demonized Cardinal Law.
Carolyn: I agree on the Eastern Churches. We attended the “Mass of Saint John Chrystendom” last evening with the Basilian Salvatorian Order (Aboona Joe presiding, Dom, with Bishop John Aleya, and Fr. Martin Hyatt, Homilist). Absolutely WONDERFUL. It was in English, Carolyn, but all of the old “tones” were used. Lord have Mercy about 100 times. Reverencing the BLessed Mother in song. A strong unambiguous statement of belief professing the True Presence, etc… Procession around the Church with the gifts. Any Catholic who has never attended an Eastern Mass definitely should.
When Bishop John blessed us all at the end, he used his Crucifix.
Thank you Rod and Joe for your beautiful testimonies.
* Any Catholic who has never attended an Eastern Mass definitely should. *
The Catholic Church recognizes 22+ liturgies, many of which are of the Eastern Rites. To learn more about the different Traditions that make up the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, click on this link:
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm
To learn more about the different Eastern Traditions of the Catholic Church, click on this link:
http://maryourmother.net/Eastern.html
At the conclusion of JPII’s funeral, a group of Eastern Rite Patriarchs, Bishops and priests came forward to chant the Byzantine Rite for the Dead. (I don’t know how to post a picture to the blog, so here is the link:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20050408/capt.ppc12304081200.vatican_pope_funeral_ppc123.jpg
In this picture, you will notice the Byzantine priest holding his stole forward. The stole signifies the wings of an angel and the prayers chanted are intended to be carried by the angel to Heaven. (at least that is what someone explained to me).
During the week following JPII’s funeral, Novendiale Masses were offered up at the Vatican. Thursday of that week was devoted to the Eastern Catholic Churches. Mar Nasrallah Cardinal Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church was chosen to offer the Divine Liturgy on behalf of all the Eastern Churches. The liturgy was covered live by Vatican and EWTN tv. It included the 40 day Service for the Dead. Just awesome!
This past weekend, Pope Benedict XVI said the Mass at the Eucharistic Congress in Bari. Some of you may have noted the presence of Eastern Catholic prelates at this service.
For those who have never experienced an Eastern Catholic liturgy, I would strongly suggest that you give it a try (and I’m guessing that Joe Soucy would agree). The only additional recommendation I would make is that before going, you do some research into that Church’s liturgy. This will help to explain the experience.
I would also encourage anyone who attends to do so at least 3 times. No matter how much you have read, the first visit is disorienting. By the 2nd visit, the chants and prayers are more recognizable. By the 3rd visit, the comfort level begins to rise as you assimilate the actual liturgy.
To locate an Eastern Catholic Church in your community, click on the following link:
http://www.crosslink.net/~hrycak/ch_indx-s.html
Thank you, Joe, for the beautiful description of the Byzantine liturgy you attended. God willing, others will be inspired by what you have described and ‘test the waters’. The Catholic Church is like a banquet – replete with such tremendous history, ancient prayers and liturgical celebrations. Personally, hearing the priest chant the words of Consecration in Aramaic – as it was done at the Last Supper – is like traveling back in time. “You are there”!
“As I always say: When you stand for nothing, nothing stands in the way (have you ever heard of a Unitarian martyr?).”
Good quip, but to quibble, I think Calvin burnt Servetus at the stake in Geneva for unitarianism.
A word of caution—-
Out in San Francisco there is a Russian Byzantine parish where the former pastor, a Jesuit I believe, is now on the staff of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, while still remaining a Jesuit with the full knowledge of his superiors, I’ve been told by a former parishioner who left in disgust to become Orthodox, though this was not the incident that sent him packing.
That’s Rosicrucian as in Freemasonry. All Byzantines are not created equal.
“From all Inds on 9/11 and enlisted in the Marines in his late 20s in order to make a difference in the world.
Lance Corporal Dimitrios Gavriel, USMC, died in Fallujah, Iraq, last November 19, making the ultimate sacrifice.
We salute all the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country in her 200-plus-year history and pray for their departed souls.
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Thanks for posting this.
Joanne