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Thanks!

(sheesh -- even this Episcopalian, albeit nosebleed high, knows who Padre Pio is.)

We're waiting to see how things shake out in October. Since our Episcopal diocese is EXTREMELY liberal and the parish where we are members is too, we have to wait and see if (a) the orthodox bishops get their own church, and (b) if they are kind enough to send a mission parish to the Diocese of Atlanta, or (c) some conservative parishes in this diocese are able to break away and join the orthodox bishops.

I am hoping at least they will do like the Presbyterians did -- have two parallel tracks and give parishes one year to decide which group they will go to.

The property is unfortunately the sticking point. The ECUSA honchos have already taken a very hard line and said that they will keep the property and pensions and endowments of any parish that leaves, and that they will sue any bishops who try to leave. So many parishes will probably chicken out and stay with the heretics.

If no reasonable alternative develops after October, we will have to find a good orthodox Catholic parish. I don't know if my husband (raised Methodist) will go for the Latin . . . :-D

I grew up in an area where you were either Catholic or "nosebleed high" Episcopalian. There were many beautiful Episcopalian parishes around at that time... sadly, as the Episcopalians became more and more liberal (this is Massachusetts) those parishes were sold off and I can't offhand think of one that is still opened in that city.

Anyway, my heart goes out to you. I think most Catholics can understand the struggle all too well.

I know what you mean about your husband and the Latin... unless you are familiar with it (part of your culture like it is/was part of the universal Catholic culture), people seem to think that the Church is trying to pull a fast one and confuse you with a "foreign" language. At least that's how my agnostic/Lutheran husband reacted. He also thought that it was "elite"!!! I thought that was pretty funny since most of the Catholics here are descended from Irish fishermen or farmers or who were starving to death at one time!