Posted on 07/21/2006 4:35:36 PM PDT by sionnsar
July 21, 2006
We know that many of you are aware of certain rumors that have been floating recently indicating that four California bishops are making charges against the Bishop of San Joaquin that might lead to a presentment (an ecclesiastical trial).
To our knowledge, no action leading to a presentment has taken place.
However, four California bishops have requested an investigation by the Title IV Review Committee. According to a communication from Bishop Dorsey Henderson, who heads up the Review Committee, the Committee itself is still being formed.
For our part, the Chancellors have already responded to the initial allegations by challenging the appropriateness of the specific Canon Law being used to bring charges. In short, these allegations are neither relevant nor justified.
Bishop John-David Schofield
San Joaquin, California
Any idea why?
If the question is "why would these bishops file suit against Schofield," then the answer would seem to be pretty simple. If they can beat him to the punch and move first, than any move that Bp. S makes to separate from TEC and their heresies might be blocked or delayed by being tied up in ecclesiastical and perhaps civil courts.
If the question is "why haven't they filed suit yet," then it is either because God is bringing these heretics to confusion, or because they are having trouble thinking up reasons for filing suit against Schofield that won't get them into even more trouble with worldwide Anglicanism than they are already in.
TEC would be smart to just let that small portion of their dioceses and parishes leave. They will still control the overwhelming lion's share of property and money. We already know they don't care about how many faithful they have...
I have no background on any of this.
Oh, boy. There is an awful lot of background required to understand all of what's going on, and I have not found a single site anywhere trying to summarize it all for the newbie. I'd suggest the site in my tagline, but even that is a few weeks' steady reading.
Perhaps someday, when I have a few weeks free. ;)
TEC probably fears that allowing the departure of the minority would legitimize the process, thus making it something worthy of reasoned consideration by the cautious faithful remaining within the church. By radicalizing the orthodox and shrouding the actions of the orthodox with the appearance of illegality, TEC is reinforcing it's intimidation.
An "iron vestibule" has decended upon Anglicanism from New Hampshire on the Atlantic to San Francisco on the Pacific!
Good observations. The standard leftist strategy in every aspect of life is to make conservatives out to be drooling, knuckle-dragging crazies... Why should it be any different in TEC?
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