THE
P RTAL
November 2018
Page 23
Letters to the Editor
From Fr Simon Beveridge
Our dear friend Paul Benfield has been a wee
bit mischievous with his enquiry at the end of his
October article in T he P ortal . He asks whether
members of the Ordinariate and Forward in Faith
might be able to bury their differences as per the
example of an ecumenical sharing and cooperation
he recently he experienced at the Catholic Church of
St Martin de Porres at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.
What makes him think members of the Ordinariate
are at loggerheads with Forward in Faith or
any grouping in the C of E for that matter, with
differences?
The main ‘difference’ surely is simply one of
authority, something we in the Ordinariate share
with the Catholic parish he mentions. Within
the Ordinariate I am aware of some things that
are happening with regard to Anglicans (and
Episcopalians) in Forward in Faith. We have one
Ordinariate group in England which meets in an
Anglican church with the permission of the Bishop,
a Provincial Episcopal Visitor, so there is already this
‘working together’ which Benfield questions.
As for my own position, I continued to look
after the Forward in Faith website and typeset New
Directions for almost two years after becoming a
Catholic priest in the Ordinariate. I also attended
two National Assemblies during this period. There
To reassure: The Ordinariate is a distinctive part
was never any animosity shown towards me, and
of the Catholic Church and its character is indelibly
friends in Forward in Faith continued - and continue
marked with the generosity expressed by the
invitation of Pope Benedict to Anglicans to enter in to - to be friends, even
Full Communion which we have accepted. Because
though our paths do not cross as much these days
of this we are a welcoming part of the Catholic
as they used to.
Church and will continue to offer an open hand to all
I was assured by those present at the National
who are considering journeying with us.
Assembly that they respected the path I had
The Revd Fr Simon Beveridge
chosen, just as I did, and do, concerning the path
Whithorn Ordinariate
they have taken. This is the same for members of
the Ordinariate here in Scotland, one of whom is
From Fr Len Black
regularly present at FiF Scotland gatherings.
In the October issue of T he P ortal , in his “Window
into the CofE”, he Revd Paul Benfield wrote, “I
wonder if members of the Ordinariate and Forward
in Faith will ever be able to put their differences aside
and do something together for the sake of the gospel
and mission”.
I never have, and still do not, experience any
feelings of animosity in either direction.
Fr Len Black
Pastor to the Ordinariate in Scotland
Deacons ... continued from page 9
On the southern programme, teaching takes place
at formation days on Saturdays at Wonersh (roughly
every 3-4 weeks) and at two residential weekends a
year – students also have a local mentor or tutor, and
there is also an annual retreat. The formation days
aren’t just lectures: we meet for Mass, Morning and
Evening Prayer and students have regular sessions
with the team of formators.
ministry of deacons – contrary to the mind of the
Church – or won’t let them fulfil their ministry when
they have been ordained or when a priest moves into
a parish.
This really is unacceptable and it is appalling that
it is often not challenged by bishops and others in
authority. Why are such priests working in parishes?
Such attitudes damage the Church and undermine the
This all sounds rosy and, for the most part, the faith of deacons and students whose commitment to
diaconate in this country is a ‘success story’ and the Church is an example to many.
growing well. One shadow, however, is the lack of
support or interest from many priests, stemming from
If you are interested in becoming a deacon, please
theological ignorance: if the picture were better, more contact your local priest, the authorities of the
would be offering themselves. In so many places, we Ordinariate or me on [email protected].
hear horror stories of priests who won’t accept the