[Siobhan]

Having joint ownership of title is not the conversion of the Church to a democracy. It is simply a different model of governance, and throughout the world there have been a number of different models.

Also, obedience is not a blanket you through over your head and say like a zombie, 'I see nothing, I can do nothing, I obey the bishop.' On the contrary, obedience means that there is constructive engagement of issues and ideas and assent with integrity to authority within its legitimate scope of canonical authority. Otherwise obedience may come to mean simply the "Yes, master." of an unwilling slave.

[american colleen]

Siobhan, if they keep all the closing parishes open, those parishes will devolve into a laity led congregation as there are not enough priests to staff the existing parishes - not to mention a dearth of parishioners. Neither situation looks hopeful in a positive way for the future.

Given the poor leadership found here for the past 40 years or so, we are facing a crisis. I would rather see parishes closed than have laity led parishes. Also, fewer parishes means the ability to focus on a mustard seed laity led by fewer but more faithful priests. No need to reassign the many priests who are really Anglicans and not Catholics.

I don't know what the answer is.

I do wish one of the more traditional priest groups (like the FSSP) would be invited in but apparently that is not going to be. The last few leaders (and their auxilaries) have said that diocesan priests should lead the indult community.