Posted on 08/04/2005 8:09:42 AM PDT by sionnsar
A GROUP of American bishops have warned one of their colleagues that they are prepared to charge him with “conduct unbecoming” for his “fascist” treatment of his clergy. They are accusing the Bishop of Connecticut, the Rt Rev Andrew Smith, of acting illegally in removing the Rev Mark Hansen from his cure as rector of St John's parish, Bristol, Connecticut [CEN July 22]. An open letter was published by nine diocesan bishops, stating that they were prepared to bring “a presentment against you for conduct unbecoming a Bishop of this Church”. They claimed that his action is “an abuse of office”. One of the signatories, the Bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt Rev Jack Iker, said: “It is sad to see those who claim to be liberal behaving like fascists when someone disagrees with them.”
He added: “We are going to take him on for abusive misuse of canons.” The Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt Rev James Adams, said the nine had been compelled to act by their consciences. “We are just doing our job of defending the faith we have received as bishops. We must be faithful and true to the doctrines and discipline of the Church.” The nine bishops stated they were would provide pastoral, legal and financial support for the beleaguered priest and parish. The row centred on the refusal of six of Bishop Smith's clergy to accept his plan for Delegated Pastoral Oversight as they were opposed to his support of homosexual bishop, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson. The Bishop and his Standing Committee claimed that the priests had 'abandoned the communion of this Church' -- a punishment that until recent years had only been meted out to clergy who were received by Rome.
Bishop Smith hotly denied he had violated canon law, rebuking his accusers for discourtesy and claiming they were ignorant of the situation in Connecticut. He defended his actions, stating Dr Hansen had neglected his duties. He also denied snubbing the Archbishop of Canterbury's Panel of Reference saying he would not “refuse to allow appeal” by the parish. A spokesman for the Bishop had previously said that he planned to work on the issue locally.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. "hotly" denied?
That's what it says...
Now things will start to get interesting. I wish our bishop had signed on with the group of nine. I think he is trying to retire gracefully.
I wouldn't use the term "fascist" -- remember the rule that the first person to call someone a fascist loses the argument, unless the person truly is a Hitler-like genocidal maniac.
What are the names of the bishops who signed the letter? The article only mentions Iker and Adams.
I agree that this is a flippant use of the word "fascist". But Bishop Smith could certainly be classified as a heavy-handed authoritarian.
"The letter was written by the Rt. Rev. James M. Adams, Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt. Rev. Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Herzog, Bishop of Albany, the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida, the Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin, and the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas."
"Warned."
"Threatened."
It's always talk, talk, talk...followed by paralysis.
There's never action.
Oh, I think there's going to be "action" with this group.
Bishops Howe, Duncan and Schofield don't just "threaten" without following up on what they've said with action.
Thanks for posting the names of the Bishops again.
As I wrote on another thread, I've been waiting for this bunch of guys to get "active" and follow up their words with appropriate action. I hope they do in this regard. I certainly trust Bishops Howe, Duncan and Schofield to be willing to take action.
And now it's begun.
Action will be good to see.
It is the only thing that stops wild beasts.
Please keep +Schofield in yuur prayers. He contracted different staph infections in his legs; it was pretty serious, though he is recovering now.
John-David Schofeld has been on my prayer list since he was elected Bishop. He is a very dear friend of a very close friend of mine, and loving Doug McGlynn the way I do, if he loves David, then I would, too! And I've never met the man. I just know about him from Doug.
But staph is so serious, and so difficult to cure. Thanks for the heads-up. I will pray more for him.
Have they written Rt. Rev’d Edwin M. Leidel of Eastern Michigan (other thread)yet?
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