Showing posts with label Methodist 'ordinations'. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Methodist 'ordinations'. Show all posts

Sunday, 29 May 2011

Catholic Instincts

One of the most worrying aspects about the Liverpool Cathedral/Methodist 'ordinations' fiasco is this. As soon as I read about it, my instinct was that this was wrong. The Archbishop of Liverpool's instinct was clearly the opposite.

That would worry me, in terms of my own response, were it not that on this (as on so many issues) my instinct coincides with what previous generations of Catholics would have felt, and also with the official teaching and praxis of the Church as demonstrated and taught by Peter.

I claim no credit for this - I'm just an ordinary Catholic in the pews. Blame my parents. They insisted on educating me in the Faith, despite the protestations of the Benedictines who ran the school I attended (one had the temerity to write to my father suggesting he leave my religious education to the school, as I was getting confused: that drew a frosty response... My father was a convert, as was my Mother: they had worked hard for their Faith).

So the worrying question is: why do we have bishops in this country whose instincts are contrary to those of the Catholic faithful of the past, (and indeed many of the present generations too) and contrary to Rome? And what can be done about it?

As usual, prayer and sacrifice are a large part of the remedy. But what else?

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Liverpool Cathedral's Methodist 'Ordinations" off...

I have just learned that the proposed Methodist 'ordinations' about which I blogged here, will not now take place in Liverpool Cathedral (H/t Fr Z).

I also note that the Catholic Herald, reporting this, mentions the Catholic Blogosphere - and indeed quotes this blog (and as Fr Z carries the Herald report, I get a mention there too! Fame at last!)

While I have no delusions of grandeur, it is encouraging to think that we on the blogosphere may play our small part in getting poor decisions noticed and re-considered.

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Methodist 'ordinations' at Catholic Cathedral?...

Is it just me, or is there something slightly, let's say, inappropriate about a Catholic Cathedral hosting a Methodist 'Ordination' Service?

Why do I have a problem with this?

Let's see...

It might give the impression that we believe that a Methodist 'Ordination' Service results in the people being ordained receiving a sacrament...

It might result in people who protest against Catholic Truth (they are protestants, remember, that's what it means...) conducting a service in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in Whose Presence they don't believe... (Unless the Cathedral authorities remove the Blessed Sacrament for the duration: what are the odds on that do you suppose).

It might lead people to imagine some equivalence between Methodism and the One True Church founded by Christ...

It might result in premature apoplexy for any believing Catholics still to be found on these sorry isles...

And on and on.

H/t Luke Coppen on Twitter (@lukecoppen)


UPDATE 28 May: these 'ordinations' will not now take place in a Catholic Cathedral! See here...