Archbishop John Hepworth: 'A Bruised Reed Shall He Not Break'

Posted today over on the blog New Goliards - a blog for ‘shipwrecked’ priests:

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he sends forth justice unto victory.

I found these two comments in David Virtue’s most recent posting about Archbishop Hepworth. Whatever his position might be now he is no longer the Primate of the TAC and perhaps may no longer be the legitimate TAC Bishop in Australia, I cannot condone the treatment he is now undergoing…

Then a piece on the St Mary of the Angels (ACA) situation by Fr Robert H Greene (APCK)

My heart goes out to Archbishop Hepworth in his candid admission of his molestation at the hands of an RCC priest. I was raised Roman Catholic and I too was propositioned by an RCC priest. Archbishop Hepworth needs healing the depths of which the average reader here cannot well comprehend…

* * *

Followed by:

Father Greene’s comment that +John Hepworth ‘needs healing…’ is one worthy of note to those who in this “coup” have really treated +John in an very un-christian manner.In my own dealings with + John, I have found him to be a very caring and pastoral priest, faithful to his calling as a priest and bishop in God’s Church and brutally honest in his dealings with me as one of his former ordinands. Admittedly my time within the TAC was not of a long duration, but I believe it should be pointed out that his commitment in working towards healing the divisions within the wider Church has been that of one who worked tirelessly towards this end. Richard Burton’s comment is also worth noting. How much longer is +Hepworth going to be hounded by those who wish to see him totally broken?

Perhaps his critics should heed the words of St Paul:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity…”Col.3:12-14. (NIV)

Again in his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges that “Each of you should not look only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.” Phil.2:4-5 (NIV)

How much longer can we as Christians afford to ignore God’s call to be One? As the season of Pentecost approaches let us all pray and earnestly work towards that visible unity within His Church that our Blessed Lord Jesus lived and died for. Perhaps we should also remind ourselves that “The Church’s One foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord…”

I don’t know who the author of this blog is as yet.

Hat Tip goes to Fr Anthony Chadwick. It is perhaps worth noting at this point, that the only two blogs listed on New Goliards are:

Blogroll

• As the Sun in its Orb – My main blog
• Civitas Dei

Both belong to Fr Anthony.

 

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