My fellow TAC Priest, Fr Anthony Chadwick, has decided to post a rather unkind (and dishonest) little ad hominem post on yours truly over on his blog. I thought it rather ironic that he gives it the title: A little respite to the bitterness.
I left a comment – which I hope he will moderate. In it, I said:
… I always strive to live my life by a little dictum: ‘ if my conduct will not vindicate itself, it is not worth vindicating’ – William Carey.
I really have no idea what has prompted this ad hominem post of yours, other than to think it must have been due to my suggesting that you were (are) involved with Archbishop Hepworth in an ugly attempted subversive, mutinous, and schismatic act that has now been exposed for the world to see.
I’m just so glad that there are many other people out there who know me far better that he does.
Perhaps in the end, it all speaks more of him than it does of me?
UPDATE: Since Fr Chadwick will not allow my comment – and why not? – to be posted, I reproduce it in full here:
… ‘bad-mouthed’? When, Fr? I ask you to produce but one example. I was (and have been) both kind and charitable in all my dealings with you, even offering my prayers for you in your particular situation. But then again, you know this Fr.
With regards to the accusation that you level against me for having allegedly ‘deleted comments from Deborah Gyapong’. Firstly, I never received any such comment (on the blog or otherwise). Secondly, I have found that woman to be a real lady (in every sense of the word), and I am only ever honoured when she takes the time to visit my lowly blog. Thirdly, I am not in that habit of deleting comments unless they insult a holy, pure and perfect God (and that includes His Son, Jesus Christ) and comments that are filled with hate-speech. In fact I have frequently maintained that anyone is free to disagree with me, as long as there are no vulgarities or offensive personal insults directed towards me and/or others. Such will not be tolerated.
So, say what you will… Fortunately for me in the dishonest picture you choose to paint of my person, you don’t know me well enough to make such rash judgments. Moreover, I always strive to live my life by a little dictum: ‘ if my conduct will not vindicate itself, it is not worth vindicating’ – William Carey.
I really have no idea what has prompted this ad hominem post of yours, other than to think it must have been due to my suggesting that you were (are) involved with Archbishop Hepworth in an ugly attempted subversive, mutinous, and schismatic act that has now been exposed for the world to see.
You are incredible! You think I should be in front of my computer 24/7 to approve your comments as soon as they arrive. I went sailing this afternoon, and I approved your comments when I saw them. I haven’t been ad hominem about you yet, but I could begin. For example, I am suspicious of anyone who never calls himself into question other than a few pious platitudes. I won’t go further for now, simply because I don’t know you.
Fr, you’ll need to be careful here. I know blogging.
1) All my previous comments on your blog (just like yours are on mine) are set as: ‘comment author must have a previously approved comment’ before the comment appears. I had that (didn’t I?) – so my comment should have appeared at 2:28 pm as the first comment. It did not. Why not?
2) The first allowed comment (by ed pacht) was made almost one hour later. There is another at 3:17 pm.
3) You eventually only allowed my comment through once you formulated and posted your response at 5:54 pm, after I called attention to your blocking of my comment here.
Just saying.
Plus, I don’t like what you are doing, going for me on the blogs. And why threaten me with ad hominem attacks? Go ahead if you must, I can take it. But let me point out that such behaviour it is quite unbecoming… The world is watching.
The ‘bitterness’? Sadly, it all yours Fr.
How dare you? I went sailing, returned home and found your comment, and allowed it – and not as a result of your whining post on your own blog. I wash my hands of you.
Come on my British mates, lets dig in and dialogue! I like you both… were priests/presbyters, and “Brethren”, ‘In Christ’! And the Lordship of Christ is watching us all! HE is worth it!
Perhaps all this is some kind of virus linked to the shrinking of the TAC.Ttwo members of the TAC clergy in a squabble and a former TAC member griping on the Anglo-Catholic blog.
Father Stephen: you at least have a bishop to look to, at least for the time being.
Poor Father Chadwick does not since the TAC Patrimony of the Primate has apparently been abolished and there is no TAC bishop in the UK, nor does there appear to be any other TAC bishop anywhere in Europe. And the Ordinariate is not an option for Father Chadwick.
That seems to me to chime with Screwtape’s observation to Wormwood:-
“We want the Church to be small not only that fewer men know the Enemy but also that those who do may acquire the uneasy intensity and the defensive self-righteousness of a secret society or a clique.”
@Mourad: I have never been part of TAC myself! And I don’t “gripe”, but stand on the historical Thirty-Nine Anglican Articles, as too the Irish Articles 1615, with Holy Scripture itself! Note, this is both “catholic” and “reformed” in classic Anglicanism.
Good Morning Mourad,
Please take note that Fr. Chadwick has not been abandoned. He has received personal communication from Archbishop Prakash, informing him that he now falls under the Episcopal visitor for England, Bishop Craig Botterill, who also has been in touch with Fr. Chadwick.
As for Fr. Stephen Smuts, I am proud to number him among the clergy in the Diocese of Southern Africa.
My prayers are with you all.
In Christ,
+Michael Gill
So, in addition to being (i) a Bishop Suffragan of the TAC Diocese of Canada, (ii) Acting Metropolitan of the Diocese of Canada, and (iii) Acting Provincial Chancellor of the Diocese of Canada, the Rt Reverend Craig Botterill, Queen’s Counsel, is now,also (iv) Episcopal Visitor to England. Perhaps he should consider also assuming the title of Arbishop of Titipu.
Not that the additional office of Episcopal Visitor to England will add too much to the bishop’s pastoral burdens since I don’t think there remain any active TAC clergy in England now that Father Mercer and others have been welcomed into the OLW Ordinariate. I think that may be why Father Chadwick is feeling a bit homeless. After all, he knows that under present norms he cannot be incardinated into the Ordinariate
As Secretary of the TAC College of Bishops you will probably be better placed than I am to assess how many of the Australian TAC bishops and clergy will join the Australian Ordinariate.
But that brings me to Africa. I have a feeling that Africa may well be the next continent to be offered an Ordinariate. Catholics in England are now quite accustomed to having priests seconded from African dioceses – and very good priests they are too. And thanks to organisations like the Community of the Resurrection, there is certainly more of the Catholic inheritance, orthodox belief and patrimony preserved in the Anglican Churches of the African continent than in the present CofE.
It seems to me that the Holy Father might be very anxious to see an Ordinariariate erected in Africa and I would be interested to hear what people in Anglican communities in Africa think about that.
Meanwhile, Satan is rejoicing in Hell.
All you “Men of God” look at your Savior on the Cross. If you get to Heaven, because you may die later today, or in your sleep, or tomorrow, when you least expect it, you must explain to your Judge why, while priests from China and India are tortured and shot for holding firm to Christ, you are choking each other with your clerical collars.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. +
See how these Christians love each other?
Friend, let us look at what a good Christian is: A good Christian is not perfect. He is a sinner who goes to confession regularly because he knows that only God is perfect and that if he loves God, he will never give up on Him no matter how many times he falls down because of his own weakness. The Church is not a museum of saints, forever preserving its members as statues or icons or in reliquaries. The Church is a hospital for sinners. If we are not sinners and can never be sinners, then there would have been no point in establishing the Catholic Church and it would not have been necessary for God to become Man in order for Him to be crucified for the redemption of humanity.
So for you clergymen reading this ignorant layman’s ramblings, please look at yourselves then look at the Man who was sacrificed for your sake, and mine. Will you die for Him, or is He just not worth it compared to your egos and pride and positions and places in the world? Ask yourselves how much you love Him by loving even those who would nail you to your own humiliating cross.