Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Priests in London and Yorkshire say they are tempted to join Rome (... however)
Times Online ^ | October 22, 2009 | Andrew Norfolk and Mary Bowers

Posted on 10/22/2009 6:55:23 AM PDT by NYer

The villages of the ancient parishes of Broughton, Marton and Thornton nestle in a corner of North Yorkshire that is perilously close to the Lancashire border. And even closer to Rome.

For the rector, the Rev Canon Nicholas Turner, editor of the traditionalist magazine New Directions, the Pope’s decree was the fulfilment of a long-held dream. But he must now decide whether to be reordained as a Roman Catholic priest. And if he does, what will happen to the churches and his parishioners?

To visit the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Thornton is to enter a Norman building that gives every appearance of being Catholic already. There is a statue of the Madonna and Child. There are candles and incense. Father Nicholas celebrates Mass, occasionally in Latin, hears confession and grants absolution.

The three parishes in the united benefice voted in the 1990s for resolutions granting them distance from the Bradford Diocese. Now the three parochial church councils may face a further vote: whether to join their priest and defect en masse to Rome, albeit a version of Roman Catholicism that would allow them to maintain much of their Anglican identity.

If it came to that, though, a hurdle would remain. Their three churches would still belong to the Church of England; unless a deal were reached, where would the new Catholics worship? In Father Nicholas’s ideal world, one church would pass into the control of the Anglican Catholics while the other two remained with the Church of England.

His world is not ideal, however, because his wife, Canon Ann Turner, is the local deacon and the Roman Catholic Church does not accept female deacons. Some tough decisions lie ahead.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Mainline Protestant; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: anglican; catholic; tac; uk
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: bronx2
They endured seventy years of communist subversion and have much to teach.

The same is especially true with the Ukrainian Catholic Church that went underground for all that time. From time to time EWTN shows documentary filmfootage of that period. You see these catholics running from their churches grasping icons, sacramentals, etc. while the wrecking ball is already swinging towards the steeples. Many priests were martyred for their faith while others were forced to convert to the Orthodox church. Today, the Ukrainian Church is blossoming, in Russia. The seminaries are packed to overflowing with many on waiting lists. The survivors of that horrific period, recount the most amazing stories of how they would hide a priest in their home until dark when they could celebrate Mass on whatever table they could find. The film is not available for purchase, though.

21 posted on 10/22/2009 9:57:21 AM PDT by NYer ( "One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GCC Catholic
These converts would "raise the bar" for the current Catholic dioceses, as the laity could freely attend these churches if they desire (just as they could attend an Eastern Catholic parish) - this is a medicine for the modernism.

You are absolutely correct. I have a feeling that, at least in America, Catholics who are fed-up with modernism will be far more inclined to consider the Anglican Use Rite than they would with one of the Eastern Rites.

22 posted on 10/22/2009 10:26:57 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: NYer

While not wishing to minimize the really heart-wrenching decisions any potential converts from Canterbury to Rome would have to make, I must say this:

My friend, a married man whose wife and (at the time) five (later six!) children were involved with him in his momentous decision, was one of the first Episcopal priests to become a Roman Catholic back in 1981 or early 1982 . . . he made the move BEFORE the Pastoral Provision had been announced, when such a conversion almost certainly meant life and employment as a layman . . .

NOTHING could hold him back, so ABSOLUTE was the conviction that THIS must be done and MUST be done NOW: that it was God’s will.

Since then, several other friends and acquaintances have “Poped” - they say, “Once you know that God wills this, EVERYTHING ELSE - the question of Orders, Marian dogmas, buildings and locations - EVERYTHING ELSE matters not at all.”

I have no doubt that it will be so also for many of these Anglican clergy now.


23 posted on 10/22/2009 12:15:02 PM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GCC Catholic

Absolutely true.

And if you had read my comment in context, you would have seen that I was responding to the question, “why haven’t they converted before?”


24 posted on 10/22/2009 12:28:46 PM PDT by cmj328 (Filibuster FOCA--a/k/a ObamaCare--or lose reelection)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
"Lord Peter Wimsey probably said..."

bump for Lord Peter!!
25 posted on 10/22/2009 1:00:19 PM PDT by NewCenturions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: TaxachusettsMan
NOTHING could hold him back, so ABSOLUTE was the conviction that THIS must be done and MUST be done NOW: that it was God’s will.

God bless him! I have watched enough episodes of The Journey Home to appreciate just how difficult it was to make that decision. Here in the ("progressive") diocese of Albany, the ("conservative") Anglican bishop swam the Tiber 2 years ago and never looked back. No doubt we will be reading some very exciting stories of incoming Anglicans, over the next few months.

26 posted on 10/22/2009 3:20:31 PM PDT by NYer ( "One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: TaxachusettsMan
was one of the first Episcopal priests to become a Roman Catholic back in 1981 or early 1982 . . . he made the move BEFORE the Pastoral Provision had been announced

Pastoral Provision was announced in July of 1980.

27 posted on 10/22/2009 3:21:11 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: bronx2

Much to do about nothing?

You bet it much to do with eteranl life — and that’s not “nothing”; everlasting life IS important.


28 posted on 10/22/2009 3:50:18 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Salvation
While eternal life is indeed important , the current hubris attributed to this Anglican situation is indeed MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING. Most informed observers have noted that few Anglicans except for those in Australia and New Zealand will choose to avail themselves of this opportunity. Yet the attention paid to the overture has attracted an inordinate amount of attention. This is unwarranted, given the trickle it will produce. While all souls are important, it would behoove all to pay more attention to the vital areas of the future, namely Russia and China, where the potential for salvation dwarf the current Anglican offer.
29 posted on 10/22/2009 4:32:29 PM PDT by bronx2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: NewCenturions
Excellent mystery novels - probably the best. And The Nine Tailors is the best of them all. The atmosphere can't be beat.
30 posted on 10/22/2009 5:45:35 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary - (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson