Posted on 12/07/2017 5:21:28 PM PST by marshmallow
Peter Ball is reportedly in discussions about joining the Catholic Diocese of Clifton
An Anglican bishop who was jailed for sexually abusing 18 young men is converting to Catholicism to “live and worship in anonymity”.
Peter Ball, who was Bishop of Lewes and of Gloucester for the Church of England, was jailed for 32 months in October 2015 for offences dating back to the 1970s.
A spokesman confirmed that he has been in talks to join the Catholic Diocese of Clifton, although he is unlikely to take Holy Orders.
The Daily Mail reports that his identical twin brother Michael, who served as an Anglican bishop, sent an email to friends and relatives revealing the plan.
“The events of the last years and rightly or wrongly the battering by the Church have totally wearied and reduced us,” Michael said. “We will proabably [sic] be joining the Roman Catholic Church soon.
“We love The Church of England but would like to end our days in a church where we can live and worship in anonymity and without constant fear.”
Michael Ball mistakenly sent the message to a BBC journalist, who showed it to Peter Saunders, a member of the Vatican commission for protecting minors.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...
If the Church of England doesn’t have any ... structures? ... under which this man (presumably sincere) could live a circumscribed life of repentance, that’s very sad. And if the Catholic Church does have such a ... facility? organization? ... couldn’t the gentleman live there without converting, unless he truly believes and professes all the Holy Catholic Church holds to be true?
“Not a good reason to become a Catholic.”
No, it isn’t a good reason in itself, but if he makes a sincere confession and receives absolution his soul might be saved. God’s grace if for everyone who is repentant.
Or is it?
He can use the Sacrament of Penance and know that he is forgiven and that God has forgotten his sin.
Wouldn’t it be ... deceptive? disingenuous? ... to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation unless he accepts the binding-or-loosing authority of the Catholic Church which administers the Sacrament?
Of course, if this man believes all the Catholic Church believes, he should convert. But if he doesn’t, I think there should be some way in which he could lead a chaste life of repentance, regardless of his theology.
You’re right — the item of amendment (amending his ways) and doing penance was not mentioned in my post.
My point was that a Protestant, of any denomination, can sincerely repent and resolve to avoid the sin, without believing in the authority structure of the Catholic Church, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and other Catholic distinctives.
Agreed.
I think all Christians should support anyone who wants to reject sin. Even if the man were an atheist, shouldn’t there be some kind of organization that would help him live a life doing good for others - serving meals to the homeless, knitting warm socks - and doing no harm?
Perhaps he will worship at quite Benedictine Monastery like the one in Pluscarden (spelling), not a parish with young people, can live a life of repentance and prayer and solitude.
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