The @UKOrdinariate responds to the “anecdotal report” of Pope Francis’ negative view
I thought it intriguing—though certainly unsurprising—that Ordinariate-officialdom responded so swiftly to Archbishop Venables’ anecdotes about Pope Francis.
From the outside looking in and having read lots of interesting things about the new pope, it seems clear that he is significantly lower-church than Pope Benedict, more “ecumenical” [not in a great way, either, since I don’t approve of what passes for most “ecumenism” these days], and more politically liberal. That doesn’t mean he’s Katherine Jefferts Schori, by any means. But Benedict he’s not—not by a long shot.
While the leaders of the Ordinariate are careful to point out the now-intrinsic nature of the Ordinariate to Rome, I think anyone who has carefully observed church politics can recognize that leaders at the highest level are able to do tremendous damage to fledgling movements through either indifference, or subtle sidelining, or both.
From the outside looking in and having read lots of interesting things about the new pope, it seems clear that he is significantly lower-church than Pope Benedict, more “ecumenical” [not in a great way, either, since I don’t approve of what passes for most “ecumenism” these days], and more politically liberal. That doesn’t mean he’s Katherine Jefferts Schori, by any means. But Benedict he’s not—not by a long shot.
While the leaders of the Ordinariate are careful to point out the now-intrinsic nature of the Ordinariate to Rome, I think anyone who has carefully observed church politics can recognize that leaders at the highest level are able to do tremendous damage to fledgling movements through either indifference, or subtle sidelining, or both.
In the midst of the joy of welcoming our new Holy Father, there have been some concerns about his opinion regarding the Ordinariates. This has been prompted by comments made public by an Anglican bishop in Argentina. Any period of transition brings with it some uncertainty, but we should recall that the Personal Ordinariates, established by the highest form of legal document in the Church, are ‘a permanent feature in the life of the Church and a sign of [her] lasting and unswerving commitment to that ultimate goal [of full ecclesial communion]‘ (Fr Federico Lombardi, 20 February 2013).
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