THE P
Snapdragon
RTAL
March 2011 Page 6
A spy in our midst ?
Have you noticed how the British media seem incapable of referring to the Ordinariate without conjuring up images of cold war conspiracy ? Is Fr . Keith Newton a modern Anthony Blunt ? Are those entering the Ordinariate meeting on benches near Westminster Cathedral wearing sunglasses and false moustaches ? I rather think not .
‘ Defector ’
So why do journalists insist on using that pejorative term ‘ defector ’ when reporting this recent development in the life of Catholic faith ? What a horrid word it is and how it misses the point entirely . In truth it says far more about the attitude and mind-set of an anti-Catholic nation than it does about those creating history in our day .
The term defector implies an underhand act on the part of those converting . A defector is neither honourable nor trustworthy . A defector colludes in utter betrayal , and are therefore rarely loved even by those they join . Another word for the defector is traitor ! See then how this cold war imagery is not only ironic but grossly insulting when used to refer to the Ordinariate .
An act of betrayal
Ironic because if an act of betrayal took place then it happened on the floor of General Synod . Our understanding of ecclesiology has not changed since Newman inspired our movement , whereas the beliefs of the establishment changed beyond recognition . It was synod which placed the views of secular society above obedience to the faith of the ages . It was Synod which broke promises and ensured Anglo-Catholics no longer had space to flourish with integrity .
Loyalty
What was considered normative belief thirty years ago is now proclaimed intolerable . We must never forget this fact . The Ordinariate was a response born from Anglican crisis . Those responsible for its implementation are the very people who tinker dangerously with the deposit of faith and now prove incapable of caring for their own . Who is the traitor when we consider matters with eyes of faith ?
And it is grossly insulting because the term defector misrepresents where loyalty lies . It suggests we owe fierce allegiance to Anglicanism when our fidelity is surely to Jesus Christ and his Gospel . If we feel forced to leave a liberalised institution then it is only because we believe God ’ s truth has been abandoned and that full corporate reunion is no longer possible .
The fact that observers consider it betrayal when Christians walk from a church that recently “ married ” two lesbian ministers before a bishop , one of whom considers abortion a blessing , is breathtaking ! Why should we remain loyal to an institution in which anything seems to go except fidelity to the faith of the ages ? There are plenty of clergy who deny central tenets of the creed without criticism but question the Royal Marriage and expect to be disciplined !
Faithfulness to the Gospel
We who enter the Ordinariate were raised Anglican , we are grateful for our time as Anglicans , but we ultimately consider faithfulness to the Gospel more important than loyalty to a schizophrenic institution . How lamentable that modern Anglicanism finds it easier to tolerate relativism than orthodoxy ! The term defector is not just rude then but inaccurate . Far from being involved in an act of desertion we are acting out of fidelity to Catholic truth .
Oh well ! If we must be labelled defectors then fine , it is a small price to pay . Let us just hope that our ‘ defection ’ forces Anglicans to confront their abandonment of faith and builds a lasting bridge to lead others to Peter . Let our walking be our talking ! Calling all defectors ! Calling all defectors !