Posted on 03/24/2017 4:01:12 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
Brilliant News!!! The Holy See has directed that the Texan parish of Our Lady of the Atonement in San Antonio is, with effect from today, part of the Ordinariate of the Chair of S Peter, the American Ordinariate.
'Atonement' was the first (in 1983) of the parishes set up to perpetuate within the Roman Unity groups adhering to their Anglican Liturgy, Spirituality, and theological tradition. It was spectacularly successful, under its dynamic and charismatic Pastor Fr Christopher Phillips.
When the Ordinariates were set up, the position of parishes adhering to the 'Anglican Use', but operating as units within ordinary dioceses, became anomalous. After all, the Holy See had set up the Ordinariates specifically to include such communities.
The Archbishop of San Antonio was understandably anxious to keep such a vibrant parish and its academy within his own diocese and jurisdiction. But he is an honourable man. So he made it very clear that he would ensure the continuation at the Atonement of the provisions made by the Holy See for Anglicans who had entered the Catholic Church upon a certain understanding.
But that proposed arrangement misses the point. It treats the Anglican Use as merely something provided as a condescending kindness for ex-Anglicans or their descendants. This would mean that the Use could die out when the original 'converts' had died, unless new converts from Anglicanism had continued to trickle in so as to keep the arrangement on a life-support machine.
That is quite simply not how things can be allowed to be in a Church which takes Mission in any way seriously. A flourishing and orthodox Christian community will inevitably attract others, particularly those from the peripheries of the Church, where people may have a residual association with Catholicism but have grown disillusioned or alienated within the 'mainstream' or 'diocesan' Church.
It is a natural suspicion that Gerhard Cardinal Mueller has been involved in this wise decision, which is good news not only for the Atonement but for all members of the three Ordinariates. It demonstrates that the See of S Peter is as committed to Pope Benedict's bold ecumenical experiment as ever it was. We were not 'taken up' just so that we could be 'dropped'!
Four cheers and more for his Eminence!
Hooray for the wise guidance Bishop Lopes has given to his Ordinariate!
Ut unum sint!!
Sorry...I did pretty well on reading comprehension in school...but I read this post and thought, “What the devil is going on?”...would someone please summarize this...all I can glean is that something has happened to an Anglican Use parish...is the news good? Bad?
It’s great news. A greedy Archbishop was trying to kick out a wonderful Priest, and take over a Parish, and School known for their beautiful reverent Masses, faithful teachings.
He failed. Two or three Cardinals intervened to Rome. Parishioners, Priests, and the Poor Clares entering the Ordinariate are jubilant they are under a new jurisdiction called the Ordinariate if the Chair of St Peter.
Although the Parish is in San Antonio, it will no longer be a part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Oops, of the chair, not if..Autocorrect snuck that in.
One, thank you for translating. Two...YAHOO!!!
For reasons unknown to me, when the Ordinariate was formed, OLtA did not join, remaining under the Archbishop of San Antonio. Just in the past few months, they asked the new Archbishop for permission to leave and become an Ordinariate parish. He responded by sacking Fr. Phillips as pastor for no apparent reason. The Holy See has now apparently stepped in and ordered the Archbishop to let OLtA go. Very good news!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.