Ordinariate Creates a 16th Century Choice!

On Fr Ed Tomlinson’s Blog:

It must have been difficult for the priests and congregations of England at the time of the reformation. Clergy must have been frantic with worry. Morale would have been low. For the ecclesiastical and political landscape was changing and none could avoid the choices confronting them, not even those tucked away in tranquil backwaters. Everyone had a choice to make. Either remain faithful to the Catholic church (and face the consequences of ruffling the feathers of the increasingly autonomous establishment), or side with the establishment and accept the new reality of becoming a reformed church in this land.

Doubtless many felt trapped like rabbits in headlights. But in the end this mattered not because indecision, however attractive it may have seemed, was delusional. It ultimately counted as a choice for the establishment- and, over time, those burying heads in the sand simply got swept along with the change and found themselves members of the new protestant reality. You cannot stand still when the landscape is shifting around you.

It was a choice made harder for many in that both the establishment in England and the situation in Rome were far from perfect. England was ruled by a despotic King and Rome embroiled in terrible scandal with corruption at the highest level of power. Few would deny that the papacy was in a dire state. Luther and his ilk clearly had a point but should they be fighting for reform from within or from without?

Not that pure Protestant ideals were driving change in England. Here the bully boy King was spotting tremendous opportunity in the wider chaos of Europe. Seeking marriage despite no annulment, and lusting after the riches of the monasteries, Henry VIII decided to break with Rome to serve his selfish end. A decision with implications we deal with to this day. The Church in England became the Church of England and joined that fractured part of Christ’s body that, lacking defined doctrine and a central authority, would splinter over the following centuries into myriad different pieces. So that today we find literally tens of thousands of autonomous protestant communities, each claiming truth for itself! And now the C of E itself faces fresh schism over various theological matters.

Back to 16th Century England and all this change is bubbling to the surface and the clergy and people are faced with a choice. Stand with the Catholic faith or accept Henry’s audacious bid to replace the pope with himself as head of the church in this land?

History teaches that those who stood with Rome suffered terribly. We might consider the Bishop of Rochester at that time, Saint John Fisher. One of the few who dared defy the King’s hubris, despite a clear understanding of the scandal of the Borgia papacy. (He admits in his own correspondence to Luther, ‘if the Roman Pontiffs, laying aside pomp and haughtiness would but practice humility, you would not have a word left to utter against them’) His fidelity was to the office and not to the man who was the successor of Peter.

‘I fear’, said Fisher whilst locked in the Tower of London, ‘that we be not the men to see the end of this misery.’ How right he was as we continue to live with the pain in this 21^st Century. ‘The fort is sadly betrayed,’ he further reflected, ‘by those who should have defended it.’ Fisher acknowledging that most clergy and people ducked the issue in his day thereby allowing the establishment to exert its unbiblical changes. When push came to shove most thought of themselves and their comfort, opting for pensions over truth. These the ones willing to put up with whatever befell them.

For Fisher the decision to stand for the faith of his ancestors cost him dear. He was tortured in the tower and later beheaded. Then his naked decapitated body was exhibited to the public before being dumped without ceremony or prayer within a shallow grave. In every church in the land those who had ducked the issue and imagined that it would not affect them were forced to preach sermons against his criminality. They were also ordered on that same day to scrub the Pope’s name from all their prayer books. A new era had begun and over the following centuries Catholics would find themselves barred from preferment, mocked and derided and many would die a martyr’s death. We might think of Edward Campion, Margaret Clithero and others besides.

Praise God that in 2012 nobody faces such violence anymore. But in many ways we have turned full circle. For within the Church of England are many who claim to be Catholic. And, like their reformation forefathers, they have arrived at a point of clear decision- a choice must be made because the ecclesial landscape is changing before them and standing still is no longer an option. Those before them just about survived in a middle way church, ‘catholic yet reformed’, but now that church is changing and the Catholic ecclesiology being undone…

So will they stand up for Catholicism and unity by joining the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, following in the footsteps of Fisher, Campion, Newman et al? Or else opt to accept whatever befalls them from the Synodical Church of England- with its women bishops et al?

It is a decision that cannot be dodged no matter the backwater one lives in. Either one stands for Catholicism and works for the unity the Pope is offering or one opts to belong to a body that is now universally and globally contradicting Catholic teaching. No matter how much incense one personally uses the situation is clear. The Church of England is manifestly no longer ‘Catholic and Reformed’ but now walks in a liberal, protestant direction.

I wonder how many have taken the time to make the choice facing their future and how many are simply sleepwalking into a new reality as members of an evolving postmodern church?

 

On Joining the Ordinariate

Writes Fr Ed Tomlinson - mostly for those Clergy where there are Ordinariates available:

My last post provoked a question in the comment thread asking if there would be more Anglican clergy joining the Ordinariate in the future? The questioner assuming that, if one was truly Catholic in belief and unhappy with the direction of the Church of England, they would surely have already joined.

But I think the migration is far from over because life is not as black and white as internet debate. People’s beliefs change and future applicants might include those whose heads are presently in the sand (regarding the implications of current synodical thinking and the Ordinariate reality) but who might yet wake up and move. People whose personal threshold has not been crossed but which may be crossed with future innovation. Those whose journey is still in formation but heading in a Catholic direction, who are yet to arrive at a ‘Newman moment’. And those who have had that epiphany but not yet found a way to put desire into action.

I am myself aware of priests with interest in joining but who do not yet feel able to do so. They tell me life is grim in the Anglo-Catholic world at present. The Catholic societies have fallen silent and leaders who once spoke with passion and clarity about desire for unity now offer no clear vision. Furthermore the Society of Wilfred and Hilda (set up to care for those who did not join the Ordinariate) has offered little beyond an ecclesiastical sandwich club for disgruntled and marginalised people. There is no plan on the table that those I speak to ascertain.

It is clear to them that, whilst high church congregationalism can and will survive, a cohesive case for Catholic life within the Church of England is over. People can put up with hospice care for a dying 19th Century vision, a vision rendered dormant by synodical vote, or else look to the Ordinariate for a robust and Catholic future in the 21st Century.

The question becomes this. How do we encourage those who want to be Catholic but who fear the journey? Remember we have no desire to poach happy Anglicans being only concerned for those who do not seem to belong there. How do we help those feeling trapped who only stay due to obstacles, real or imagined, which they see as barriers to change? It helps to briefly name the obstacles. The following comes from those I know:

1) Family pressure in a variety of forms. There are some married whose wives do not want to leave a comfortable vicarage, a job for life or the certainty of a pension. Others have children at crucial stages in education and are waiting. Others are worried about the reaction of wider family and friends who hold vehemently anti-Roman views.

2) Financial worry. Some fear a move into the Ordinariate means losing a pension or else they worry they cannot support themselves. This is especially true of those who know that they cannot bring a large group. It is not unusual for Anglo-Catholic priests to be serve parishes where the people are less Catholic in outlook than themselves. I would reassure them that nobody who has joined the Catholic church thus far has been left in difficulty but maybe this is not enough and we need to secure buildings and growth to convince them?

3. Fear of change. Some know they would be happier with us but cannot face the prospect of transition. And let us be frank here- it is a tough process with every single person who has left facing a barrage of hostility, often from those they considered friends. I myself received vile letters and emails and was even locked out of my own church before I had left! Conflict isn’t pleasant and the Ordinariate has ruffled feathers. It leads to challenge for those who join. So how can we smooth the journey? Because it does settle down in time.

4) Building junkies. There are those wed to buildings and/or empires. It isn’t easy walking from a project you have given so much to. The wrench of having to leave is causing many to delay, not least those approaching retirement.

5) Compromised reality. There are those with complications in their personal lives. They want to join but are not currently in a position to do so. Clearly decisions need to be made. We might also consider pessimists who fear applications would be turned down or those with scandals in the past. There are no guarantees when you leave but I suggest the Catholic church is compassionate.

We unveil myriad reasons why people might dawdle when it comes to joining the Ordinariate – even though they support the vision! They need love and assistance and we have to help as best as possible. And perhaps it is also time to gently challenge them….

Because it disturbs me when people say they will join the Ordinariate- when they retire!

Read the whole post here.

In conclusion, critically, he asks:

… And we can add to this number countless clergy and laity who, in 2007, signed a petition sent to the holy see seeking provision and help. Where are they now? Some bluffs must have been called but how can we encourage those who do want to join the Ordinariate but cannot bring themselves to do so? It is a serious question not least because our Lord warns about the danger of hanging back once we know we should move forward. (He famously lambasts those called to follow but who prefer to bury dead or who look back when ploughing fields). Quite simply dilly-dallying is not a Gospel option. Is it then time for some action?

If you know in your heart that you belong in the Catholic church then realise that we are praying for you and here to help. The leap is demanding and there are many challenges once you arrive on Rome’s shore. But we need and we want you. We keep the seats warm- why not get in touch and let us help you?