THE
P RTAL
April 2012
Page 15
Letters to the Editor
From: Brian and Bärbel Copus
WE CAME HOME - IN ROME
The Ordinariate pilgrimage to Rome was
exceptionally wonderful for us personally. We were
confirmed by Mgr. Keith in Newman’s titular church
of San Giorgio in Velabro having been received last
Maundy Thursday.
The delay was due to our need to obtain a decree
of annulment of a first marriage. In all we waited 20
months for the process to be completed in Tribunals Brian and Barbel Copus with Mgr Keith Newton
and their Sponsors, Sue Vine and Fr Edwin Barnes
of First and Second Instance. Then our marriage
was convalidated. We believe we are the first
We are told that modern advances in science and
Ordinariate couple to do this – just in time for Rome!
technology reveal better ways to conduct life. True?
The waiting, testing and tedious at times, sapped
Consider the ills of modern day society. Has the
our spirits but, by the grace of God, we persevered in modern way improved the lot of life? We are told
spite of highs and lows. We now have the joy of being that a woman has the right to make a choice when it
complete Catholics.
comes to having a child. Has the unborn child been
given the right to choose between life and death?
We want to encourage others who are hesitating
There is concern about the treatment of the elderly.
or nervous about entering the Church through the
Ordinariate from the same situation we faced. Please Does the command that we honour our mother and
do not give up and stay where you are. The process is father not say something about the way we treat our
elderly?
lengthy, patience and humility are required, but it is
not impersonal. We never felt we were just another
I reject some secular ways but I still love my
‘case’.
secular neighbours because Jesus told me to love
my neighbour. I simply point to a better way while
Those involved in this area of Church work
standing firm in my Christian beliefs.
are kind, caring and helpful. Please think of the
generosity of the Holy Father’s offer to Anglicans. Be
Stephen Bond
brave and accept it. Come home to Rome!
Saint Nazaire, France
Brian and Bärbel Copus
Bournmouth
From Stephen Bond
Marriage is a sacrament instituted by God and the
Church does not have the right to alter sacraments.
The State may make whatever arrangements it wishes
for civil unions but it has no right to legislate on
God’s sacraments. Society changes from generation
to generation. It bows to current ideas. Some change
is good and some damaging. The way faithful
Christians lead their lives was made clear through
Jesus Christ and change should be be considered
accordingly. This is not always easy and Christians
have often suffered terribly for remaining faithful to
God’s way when the State and current fashions have
tried to make us change our ways contrary to God’s
way. Secular society should not try and force its ways
upon us. We do not force our ways on society but we
suggest that God’s way is a better way.
From Christina White,
I have an old family prayer card that I treasure
which has a quote from Edward King:
“Go bravely on doing the daily duties
and trusting that as our day is,
so shall our strength be.”
This always seems to me to combine sober realism
with transforming faith, and is a valued part of my
“Anglican patrimony.”
Christina White
Northampton Ordinariate Group
The views expressed in these letters are not necessarily those of the Editors
Letters for publication should be sent to:
The Editors, T he P ortal ,
56 Woodlands Farm Road,
Birmingham B24 0PG
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