Dear Ladies
of the Church of England, purple isn’t your best color. Neither is black but
that didn’t stop some of you from putting on black shirts and Roman collars
when your church ordained the first female priests twenty years ago. And as of last July, church ladies can order
ready-to-wear clergy attire in bishop’s purple since approval
was granted for women to become bishops. Rev. Libby Lane did just that last month, donning purple as the first
female bishop in the Church of England.
of the Church of England, purple isn’t your best color. Neither is black but
that didn’t stop some of you from putting on black shirts and Roman collars
when your church ordained the first female priests twenty years ago. And as of last July, church ladies can order
ready-to-wear clergy attire in bishop’s purple since approval
was granted for women to become bishops. Rev. Libby Lane did just that last month, donning purple as the first
female bishop in the Church of England.
The Church of England, the mothership for the
Worldwide Anglican/Episcopal Communion, was among the last of the group to
agree to women ordinations in 1992. The trendsetter
in 1975 was the Episcopal Church of the USA. Then, like dominos, other member churches fell
until finally, the Church of England took the plunge too—further away from
their Christian roots.
Worldwide Anglican/Episcopal Communion, was among the last of the group to
agree to women ordinations in 1992. The trendsetter
in 1975 was the Episcopal Church of the USA. Then, like dominos, other member churches fell
until finally, the Church of England took the plunge too—further away from
their Christian roots.
Sticking with the Vine
In the Catholic
Church, we
stay rooted in Jesus because he is the vine and we are the branches—not the
voting body. Voting about truth is a departure from tradition, lest one speaks
of the tradition of heresy. But the
brave new world in jolly old England ignores tradition. At the Church of England’s General Synod last
summer, only around 30 of the 480 people present voted against changing canon
law.
Church, we
stay rooted in Jesus because he is the vine and we are the branches—not the
voting body. Voting about truth is a departure from tradition, lest one speaks
of the tradition of heresy. But the
brave new world in jolly old England ignores tradition. At the Church of England’s General Synod last
summer, only around 30 of the 480 people present voted against changing canon
law.
To those 30,
I say: come home to the Catholic Church where the teaching is apostolic. Our last two popes have simplified entry into
the Church for traditionalist Anglicans.
Many uncomfortable with female priests and openly gay bishops have already
joined while retaining many of their former traditions.
I say: come home to the Catholic Church where the teaching is apostolic. Our last two popes have simplified entry into
the Church for traditionalist Anglicans.
Many uncomfortable with female priests and openly gay bishops have already
joined while retaining many of their former traditions.
Fr.
Dwight Longenecker is an example of this. He is a
former Anglican minister who entered the Roman Catholic Church in 1995
alongside his family. He serves now at
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Greenville, South Carolina in addition to
writing and speaking. In his conversion
story, he explained that he looked for Jesus in his body because St. Paul
taught that the body of Christ was the Church. “But if my church was simply a
gathering of people like myself, and Jesus was a reflection of ourselves, then
we were only serving ourselves not him,” he said. “I began to see that Anglicans worshipped a
very Anglican Jesus and that was not a complete Jesus.” Ultimately, Fr.
Longenecker found that through Catholic roots, he could share in a Christian
experience that transcended self to a Christ that was personal, historical, and
universal.
Catholic Unity
Allowing women priests is causing divisions in the Church
of England and larger Anglican/Episcopal community. It has been blamed for
their declining numbers.
of England and larger Anglican/Episcopal community. It has been blamed for
their declining numbers.
By contrast, Catholics not ordaining priests is causing no division at all. Yes, there are rebels in the
pews—or more often not actually in
the pews on Sundays. Aside from the
rancor and rumblings they cause within earshot of the secular media, the rebels
have no sway. None.
pews—or more often not actually in
the pews on Sundays. Aside from the
rancor and rumblings they cause within earshot of the secular media, the rebels
have no sway. None.
Catholics don’t take votes to psychoanalyze a modern Jesus. Our hierarchy keeps on keeping on with the
early Church. Call us unprogressive, but
Catholics are not going to one up Jesus. Oh, some try, but other than a bit of
media gawking, it never amounts to anything. For instance, this month, Georgia
Walker announced she became the first Catholic woman priest of Kansas
City. Reporters, that know darn well she
can’t be a Catholic priest, gave her the attention she craved.
early Church. Call us unprogressive, but
Catholics are not going to one up Jesus. Oh, some try, but other than a bit of
media gawking, it never amounts to anything. For instance, this month, Georgia
Walker announced she became the first Catholic woman priest of Kansas
City. Reporters, that know darn well she
can’t be a Catholic priest, gave her the attention she craved.
Pretend Priests
The Church’s Canon Law 1024 says only baptized
Catholic men can become priests but Walker claims she is now a priest. Regardless, the 67-year-old woman had a pretend ordination by fake
Bishop
Bridget Mary Meehan who claims she has ordained around 130 women in half a dozen
countries.
Catholic men can become priests but Walker claims she is now a priest. Regardless, the 67-year-old woman had a pretend ordination by fake
Bishop
Bridget Mary Meehan who claims she has ordained around 130 women in half a dozen
countries.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith issued a decree in 2008 stating that women who attempt to become priests
would be automatically excommunicated. (Note to Walker: not only are you not a
priest, you aren’t even Catholic, honey.)
Pope Francis also reaffirmed this law in 2013, stating that the door to
women’s ordination has already been closed. Amen.
Faith issued a decree in 2008 stating that women who attempt to become priests
would be automatically excommunicated. (Note to Walker: not only are you not a
priest, you aren’t even Catholic, honey.)
Pope Francis also reaffirmed this law in 2013, stating that the door to
women’s ordination has already been closed. Amen.
The Huffington Post quoted Walker as saying: “What
the official church does to me is not relevant.” According to her, all the Church can do is
deny her the sacraments but now that she is a priest she can provide her own
sacraments. Well, okay then, the
psychosis is complete.
the official church does to me is not relevant.” According to her, all the Church can do is
deny her the sacraments but now that she is a priest she can provide her own
sacraments. Well, okay then, the
psychosis is complete.
Mother Teresa made this observation to an Indian journalist in 1984, “Nobody can be a better priest than Our
Lady, and she remained only the handmaiden of the Lord.” There are over 2000
years of unity among the Bishops on a male only priesthood, beginning with the
12 male apostles. Ample historical
evidence explains Why Women Can’t be Priests. Ah, but I don’t think such evidence holds sway with ladies demanding entry into the priesthood. They are too strong willed to listen and it’s not the will of God they are after but their own.
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Lady, and she remained only the handmaiden of the Lord.” There are over 2000
years of unity among the Bishops on a male only priesthood, beginning with the
12 male apostles. Ample historical
evidence explains Why Women Can’t be Priests. Ah, but I don’t think such evidence holds sway with ladies demanding entry into the priesthood. They are too strong willed to listen and it’s not the will of God they are after but their own.
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