Archbishop Louis Falk Not Joining the Ordinariate
July 27, 2012 31 Comments
I have been fairly silent lately. Yes, I have been busy, but there is more to it than that. It has been difficult for me to hold my tongue, but it was necessary. New events have occurred and I am able to answer the questions that many have been asking. My former parish St. Aidan’s here in Des Moines has made its final decision and chosen notto join the Ordinariate after all. They will remain Anglican and Bp. Louis Falk is remaining with them (any questions about the parish itself should be directed to them and not to me). It has been a very difficult time for them, as they had come to realize that the Ordinariate was not what they wanted (at the same time that I was in the process for ordination–not an easy task for any parish). I am happy to say that there is no strife between the parish and I (or my family either). Each of us realized that we were not on the same path, and yet there is peace between us. I ask everyone to pray for them at this time.
I, on the other hand, am happily serving as a substitute hospital chaplain (a very rewarding ministry!) for the next few months, and in the meantime I am seeking to begin an Ordinariate community here in Des Moines. Anyone interested in being a part of this, please let me know by contacting me at my email address listed to the left side of this page. I am especially seeking any Anglicans/Episcopalians who are interested in what the Ordinariate has to offer; Lutherans may also find something of interest in this venture.
When there is a detour in the route we plan for our lives we can spend our time griping about the new path, or we can accept it and realize that God likes to send us surprises. I like to say, “want to make God laugh? tell Him your plans!” The wonderful part is that whenever God changes our plans for us, He always gives us far greater blessings than we would have ever come up with were the decisions entirely ours. The diocese of Des Moines, and especially Bishop Richard Pates, has been a special blessing to us, for which we thank God daily. There has been so much love and support that I do not have the ability to list all the things that people have done for me and my family in the past month alone. God’s grace continues to amaze me.
HT: Michael Frost
UPDATE I: Archbishop Louis Falk, Unity, Accountability and the Blogs.
UPDATE II: Deborah Gyapong comments on the above:
It is sad news to see Archbishop Louis Falk is not joining the Ordinariate and that St. Aidan’s has decided not to join either. I have never met him, but I know he was a staunch advocate of Christian unity when he was Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC)…
The whole exercise has left behind such pain and bitterness. The TAC did ask for some form of corporate reunion but the only corporate reunion that ended up on offer was parish by parish, reconstituted after individuals had converted. I do not blame Archbishop Hepworth for his overly expansive interpretation of Anglicanorum coetibus. As fine a mind as Fr. Aidan Nichols’ told me he didn’t see why the document could not cover the corporate reunion of a diocese or even a province.
For many the unfolding of the Ordinariates’ character might seem too much like absorption, too much like a loss of identity for those hoping for corporate reunion of some kind.
Thankfully for us we have not experienced our coming into the Catholic Church as a loss of identity at all. Our celebrations of the Eucharist on Sundays and everything else we do is not much different from what we did before we became Catholic. We have guest priests now, but they love our patrimony and are doing their best to help us maintain it as we wait for our own clergy to be ordained as Catholic priests.
But this was not an easy journey. For some it has proved impossible, at least for now.
Let’s keep our comments respectful and measured, seeing as I trust most of us do hope for the Ordinariates to be successful and that eventually those who are unsure now might find them truly places where Anglican identity and patrimony are flourishing within the Catholic Church.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
Remarkable attitude, considering the fact that according to the earlier posts on his blog a dozen or so months ago the congregation actually had him move there with his wife + 5 children (and sell a house in Virginia in the process to buy one in Iowa) for the very reason that they told him they were Ordinariate-bound and wanted him to replace +Falk (who was to retire once again), as he was supposed to assist them in the process while pursuing Catholic ordination through the Ordinariate at the same time.
Yet no reproaching in his post about kind of breaking the deal, despite all the personal cost for his family and really a “detour” in his plans for a stable parish posistion…
Well, it does speak well for him, and not so well for them. But presumably they and Archbishop Falk will be joining Archbishop Hepworth in the post-TAC.
One can only assume that there was an obstacle in Archbishop Falk’s path to ordination and I am sorry about that. Nonetheless, kudos to Fr Seraiah and his family and best wishes to him in his mission to set up a parish within the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter.
Best wishes to St Aiden’s and Bishop Falk as well.
I believe Fr. Gerard’s comment about Archbishop Falk and “an obstacle in [his] path to [RC Ordinariate] ordination” is in error, though only Archbishop Falk could comment adequately on it and provide any details. Also, Msgr. Steenson, the head of the Ordinariate in the USA, came to St. Aidan’s on July 7th during the voting (July 1st-22nd); he met with them and took their questions. St. Aidan’s appears to have taken the issue very seriously.
I agree, just because someone changes their mind or path about the Ordinariate’s does not mean they are somehow doing so because of so-called problems with Roman ordination, I mean who knows? And not every conservative or even traditionally minded Anglican sees the Roman road! There really are Evangelical-Protestant and Reform minded Anglicans! We know this is a pro Ordinariate blog, as most of those who comment here.
And indeed Anglo-Catholicism is still alive in the Anglican Communion!
I can assure you having talked with Bishop Falk just following his decision there was no impediment in his reception in to the Ordinariate, rather he had just received his final rescript for ordination from the CDF. This decision was solely based in the current unfavorable conditions as they now exist in the Ordinariate and the overwhelming decision of his parish by a 3-1 vote not to be a part of the process at this time.
When the votes were counted and the tally announced at St. Aidan’s this past Sunday, there were 5 “no” votes for every 1 “yes” vote. (Reportedly, there were a couple of ballots that were not voted. If those were assumed “yesses”, then it would be 3-1; if assumed “noes” then even greater than 5-1.)
What “unfavourable conditions”?
Wasn’t there a reason Archbishop Falk left the Episcopal Church in the 1970s?
The situation is sad, however, Father Seraiah has shown great Christian charity towards the members of the parish who made a committment to him and then like the three TAC Bishops promised to commit themselves to the Ordinariate backed away without a thought to those they represented.
Our Lord will reward him for standing firm in his committment to God inspite of the hardships and sacrifice he is going through.
The question is, will this parish be able to continue with some of it’s members going with Fr. Seraiah, and some other remaining Anglican…
+ PAX et BONUM
St. Aidan’s should likely continue as strong as before. The vote wasn’t close at all.
Yesterday, the first Sunday after St. Aidan’s vote, looked like everyone who had been worshipping there was continuing to worship there. There were a few more worshippers than last Sunday. Didn’t appear that anyone was absent. I haven’t heard anyone mentioning anyone leaving St. Aidan’s to worship with the Ordinariate. Fr. Chori may not see any of St. Aidan’s members go over to his RC Ordinariate liturgy, though only time will tell. If this holds, St. Aidan’s should be able to continue without any significant difficulty. (Fr. Chori is saying the Anglican Use liturgy at 10 am on the south side of Des Moines (in the same church where they say the Latin Mass at 8:30 am); St. Aidan’s (northwest side of town) liturgy starts at 9:30 am.)
Archbishop FAlk is a Godly man and a a gentleman, and a sad loss to the Catholic Church.
I agree 100% – Archbishop Falk and his wife were both inspirations to me during my spiritual journey.
By the way has anyone heard the fate of the Incarnatation cathedral in Orlando and Bishop Campese.
I’m not at all sure there’s going to be an ACA/TAC for anyone to remain with. The elephant in the room is the lawsuit from St Mary of the Angels, which names Bp Strawn and the ACA among the defendants. This is inexorably moving through the courts, and if damages are awarded, it’s likely to bankrupt the ACA. Is Bp Strawn the diocesan for this parish? I wouldn’t lay money on his continued career.
‘Archbishop Falk Not Joining the Ordinariate’ -wonderful headline, redolent of the equally risible and bathetic ‘Queen Not Dead’ headline which appeared in the (UK) Sunday Times some years ago.
This blog entry http://www.theanglocatholic.com/tag/archbishop-louis-falk/ from 2010 makes it plain that Falk had been aligned with Bps Campese and Moyer within the ACA as favoring Anglicanorum coetibus. I believe the headline appropriately expresses a change in views by Falk, whereas the Queen does not change state until she passes away.
@John: I believe your correct, that Archbishop Falk was thinking “pastorally”, and about those souls in his responsibility, and chose for now anyway, to stay the course with and for them! This shows to my mind anyway, that he does not see Anglicanism, as outside of Catholicism.. at least Anglo-Catholicism.
All quiet in Orlando at the Cathedral of the Incarnation?
My God, can’t we have some consistency here?
From my understanding after speaking to someone in the office at Incarnation, they will be received, I believe, on September 16, 2012 and the priests will be ordained at a later date.
St. Aidan’s should have been positively sure about the Ordinariate before creating such a horrible situation for the priest and his family.
Knowing how parishes are, I am pretty sure that the parish knew that Archbishop Falk was not joining the Ordinariate. There are very few secrets among us humans. They decided to follow a man. We all know how this worked out for the Ordinariates before. We are not to judge where one shall go after death, however, we can surely judge their behavior on earth.
Yes, indeed we must judge biblically & theolgically, but even there seeking the Spirit of Christ therein!
What is the ASA of St Aidan’s? I didn’t get the impression it was a large parish, nor did Fr Seriah leave a better job to become the pastor there two years ago. Now he is in the employ of the local diocese, and his situation is probably more secure than it has been for years. He certainly doesn’t sound aggrieved; why should anyone else be? Most TAC groups that have joined the Catholic church have experienced significant attrition in the lead-up, as Group Think and avoidance gave way to the reality of conversion. To have imagined a different scenario seems very naive.
Refreshing my memory by re-reading The Maccabean and other Internet sources I now recall that Fr Seriah’s previous Reformed Episcopal Church congregation in VA dissolved over internal disputes around the Full Quiver movement and related issues. He was a notable contributor to The Anglo-Catholic from early days and I am sure the appointment to St Aidan’s was meant to be a helping hand to an unemployed man with a large family. Given Fr Seriah’s wide denominational experience one might conclude that being part of the Catholic church has been his main goal, now achieved, and the Anglican Ordinariate has been a lesser focus.
I apologize for twice misspelling Fr Seraiah’s name.
Thanks Benedict…it’s interesting how all this is unfolding.
Hi, where is Archbishop Falk? I mean with all the things taking place surrounding TAC and Ordinariate? How is he doing. I would like to communicate with him to see how he is. Would it be possible to post his email address?
Fr. Gerald, He remains at St. Aidan’s Anglican in Des Moines, Iowa. He preached an interesting sermon this past Sunday on the Magi and Christian worship. He celebrates the liturgy and preaches most Sundays; when he doesn’t, Fr. Brad does. You might call the church and leave a message for him on the answering machine. His lovely wife is there with him each Sunday.