Anglican Diocese of Melbourne Responds to Fr Christopher Seton
August 9, 2012 2 Comments
Fr Christopher Seton moving to the Ordinariate was reported on here. The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne has responded officially:
Anglicans respect decisions made in good conscience
Contrary to Fr Christopher Seton’s reported comments (“New world order as Anglican priests move to a Catholic environment”, The Age, 8/8), the Anglican Church respects those who cannot accept, in good conscience, the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate.
Even though the ordination of women has been joyfully embraced by the Melbourne Diocese and a majority of the Australian Dioceses, the Anglican Church has sought to be supportive of those who cannot accept the ordained ministry of women priests or bishops.
A protocol to ensure appropriate care and support for those who object to women’s ordination is well established.
Moreover, Fr Seton’s reported assertion “that you’ve got to believe in same-sex marriage” to remain in the Anglican Church is inaccurate and misplaced.
A new priest will be appointed to Fr Seton’s former Anglican parish of All Saints Kooyong and the parish will continue as a worshipping community in the Anglican tradition.
We wish the four priests who have chosen to enter the Ordinariate every blessing for their future ministry. We have a good relationship with the Roman Catholic Church in Melbourne, and hope to maintain this by avoiding the kind of commentary reported in this article.
Roland
Ashby
Communications Director
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
About Fr Stephen Smuts
As a former Melburnian Anglican for 15 years , I am not sure what the safeguard for those
opposing female Clergy was. No wonder we had Forward in Faith in operation in Australia for
many years. I guess a home away from home is still All Saints , East Saint Kilda in Melboune.
I agree with Mr.Ashby’s comments , you dont have to believe in same sex marriage to be an Anglican, that is a bit far fetched.
Father Ed Bakker OPR
Perhaps it is about time for this diocese to reread the 39 Articles it so firmly believes in. How on earth does that work in the 21st century. It was a document produced at a time when Europe was in a state of war (or near war). The talk of princes having jurisdiction over the church is absurd and how on earth a near republican Australia can even think it, is plainly daft. The talk of the Bishop of Rome is nasty and cannot endorse Roland Ashby’s contention of good relations with the (Roman) Catholic Diocese in Melbourne.