SNACKERAL MAPPERS

from Midwest Conservative Journal by The Editor

Reading this piece on the Vatican’s new Apostolic Constitution for Anglicans, one gets the impression that its author, the Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon, bishop-in-charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe REALLY wants to cut loose:

"In light of the lack of consultation with its own bishops, including the new Archbishop of Westminster, the unexplained delay between the announcement and the publication of this “Apostolic Constitution” (currently available only in English and Italian), as well as the insult offered to the spiritual leader of Anglicans, the Archbishop of Canterbury, there are certainly reasons to worry about the Roman Catholic Church. On the eve of my consecration as Bishop in Rome, which took place on November 18, 2001 at our parish of St. Paul’s-Within-the-Walls, I had the signal honor to be invited to the Holy See by Pope John Paul II, who wished to offer me a formal welcome to Europe. This unprecedented act of hospitality touched me deeply, as well as the Pontiff’s brief speech, in which he affirmed that the commitment of his church to the path of ecumenism is irrevocable, and has the unswerving goal of the reunion of all Christians."

I’ve got news for you, Pete. John Paul II wanted exactly the same thing Benedict XVI wants and in pretty much the same way. But excuse Pete while he does his ritual prostrations.

"However, this new constitution does not seem congruent with that declaration of eight years ago, which was absolutely in line with the great decrees of Vatican II[peace and blessings be upon it], Lumen gentium and Unitatis redintegratio. This new document quotes them, but seems to have forgotten their spirit. Instead of the measured, humble cadences of those great documents, a triumphalistic accent colors Anglicanorum coetibus.

"To think that all that work we put into making every other Christian tradition exactly like us ecumenism has been blown to hell because of that stupid Bavarian.

"Strongly conscious of the evil effects of the various schisms, especially on the credibility of the Gospel that we all are responsible to proclaim, the Anglican Communion took the initiative of launching the ecumenical movement at the dawn of the last century. We had thought that in these last decades some real progress was being made. But the resurrection of the language of assimilation in the latest document can only disappoint all who seek the reconciliation of all Christians, whatever their particular denomination. The Vatican can rest assured that we Anglicans will not create “Roman-rite jurisdictions” for unhappy Roman Catholics!"

To make matters worse, the Catholics insulted Rowan Williams.

"I strongly applaud the serene manner of His Grace Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in responding to the maladroitness of the announcement and language of this new Constitution. Instead of breaking with partners whose conduct is so peremptory, or expressing a perfectly justifiable anger, Archbishop Williams decided to keep a long-planned appointment with Benedict XVI. As a sign of apology for his disrespect, the Pope offered the Archbishop a golden bishop’s pectoral cross."

Pete? Ever have to take off a bandage that’s on a hairy part of your body? The best way is to man up, grab it and pull with one quick motion.

It’ll only hurt for a moment. If you do it slowly, you just prolong the discomfort. The same principle applies here.

Thing is, Pete, Dr. Williams is part of the problem and the Pope knows that. If the RCC had consulted Dr. Williams or any other Anglican while drafting this document, they would still be arguing about what the first word should be.

Better to get this done, release it and go from there regardless of who feels “insulted.” Besides, Pete, why should the Pope bother what the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks about anything when Dr. Williams basically admitted that ecumenism is a fraud?

"In a remarkable speech on Nov. 19 at the Gregorian University, the heart of Roman Catholic teaching, the archbishop called our sister church back to order. In light of the progress of the past four decades and the permanent change of the theological modes of expression of the churches which have now come to hold in common the meanings of salvation and the identity and mission of the church, how can a “second-order question” like the ordination of women harm the unity achieved on these “first-order questions”? In his address, the Archbishop said, “And the challenge to recent Roman Catholic thinking on this would have to be: in what way does the prohibition against ordaining women so ‘enhance the life of communion,’ reinforcing the essential character of filial and communal holiness as set out in Scripture and tradition and ecumenical agreement, that its breach would compromise the purposes of the church as so defined?”"

That doesn’t sound like a bishop open to the possibility that he might be wrong, Pete. That sounds like a bishop who thinks Rome is wrong and needs to change. To be more, you know…Anglican.

"All Christians should hope that these developments do not signal a step back from that commitment which John Paul II had so firmly declared in 2001. In light of other recent clumsy initiatives, if the Vatican continues to insist anew on dusty decrees of a bygone era, it will isolate the Roman Church from other Christians. In the context of globalization, which the Archbishop of Canterbury called to mind, this would be a tragedy for us all."

In those immortal words of Daffy Duck, “Let’s run through that again.” The Catholics rock a billion and change worldwide. Anglicans claim 80 million but the ones that are actually advancing the Gospel dwarf those of you in the West who abandoned the idea of serious evangelism decades ago.

“Insisting anew on dusty decrees of a bygone era” will isolate Rome, Pete? Are you serious? Western liberal Anglicans have been making Christianity up as they go along for a great many years now. Rome insists that the words of Scripture mean what they say.

Guess which tradition is dying. So just say ”Whore of Babylon” and call it a day, Pete. You know you want to.