From Katie Sherrod at
Desert's Child via Elizabeth Kaeton at
Telling Secrets.
Is Bishop Jack Iker attempting to move the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to the Roman Catholic Church? Four Episcopal priests from the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, named below, made a presentation to Roman Catholic Bishop Kevin W. Vann, of Fort Worth, earlier this year. Below is a summary of the presentation. Katie Sherrod has the full text at her blog.
EIGHT CRUCIAL FINDINGS
1. We believe the See of Peter is essential not optional - Fr. Stainbrook
2. We believe a magisterium is needed desperately - Fr. Crary
3. We believe the Catholic Faith is true - Fr. Stainbrook
4. We believe the Anglican Communion shares the fatal flaws of TEC- Fr. Tobola
5. We believe our polity is in error-Fr. Crary
6. We believe we are not the only ones in our diocese - Canon Hough
7. We believe Pope Benedict XVI understands our plight - Fr. Tobola
8. We believe there is a charism which Anglican ethos has to offer to the Universal Church-Fr. Stainbrook
....
PROPOSAL
We request that the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth provide the guidance necessary so that we might "make a proposal" that would lead our Diocese into full communion with the See of Peter.
We believe this guidance is necessary for the following reasons:
1. We cannot adequately prepare such a proposal without input from those to whom the proposal is to be made.
2. Such guidance would help us through the complicated aspects of this proposal.
3. With this guidance, the Holy Spirit could affect more quickly the healing of this portion of the broken Body of Christ.
Should you consent, we gladly offer ourselves for this important work and stand ready to work with those you might designate.
-------------------------
A Presentation to
The Most Reverend Keven W. Vann
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Given by
Members of the Clergy of
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort WorthBelow is the statement by Bishop Iker on the presentation by the four Episcopal priests to Bishop Vann.
A STATEMENT BY BISHOP IKER
ON ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUES
I am aware of a meeting that four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth have had with Bishop Kevin Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth on June 16, 2008. After a year of studying various agreed statements that have come out of ecumenical dialogues between Anglicans and Roman Catholics on the national and international level, these clergy expressed an interest in having a dialogue on the local level and asked my permission to make an appointment to talk with Bishop Vann. The stated goal of these official Anglican/Roman Catholic dialogues (which have been going on for over 40 years) has been full, visible unity between the two communions.
The priests who participated in this meeting with Bishop Vann have my trust and pastoral support. However, in their written and verbal reports, they have spoken only on their own behalf and out of their own concerns and perspective. They have not claimed to act or speak, nor have they been authorized to do so, either on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth or on my own behalf as their Bishop.
Their discussion with Bishop Vann has no bearing upon matters coming before our Diocesan Convention in November, where a second vote will be taken on constitutional changes concerning our relationship with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. There is no proposal under consideration, either publicly or privately, for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to become part of the Roman Catholic Church. Our only plan of action remains as it has been for the past year, as affirmed by our Diocesan Convention in November 2007. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth intends to realign with an orthodox Province as a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
By God’s grace, we will continue to work and pray for the unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
August 12, 2008What am I missing? The priests have Bp. Iker's "trust and pastoral support", BUT they speak "only on their own behalf and out of their own concerns and perspective." Hmmm. I'm confused. Is this about having a foot in Rome's door to have a place to go, just in case the realignment with "an orthodox Province as a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion" doesn't work out?
If the four priests want to become members of the RCC, then I wish them Godspeed. If Episcopal church members want to affiliate with Rome, then I wish them the very same Godspeed. Bishop Iker, if you desire to be part of the RCC, then go with God.
Beyond that, what is this maneuvering about? I wonder if they know what they themselves are about, or is it that they don't want to say what they are about?
Here is the article in today's issue of the
Dallas Morning News. Do I detect a bit of wanting to have their cake and eat it, too?
The document states that the overwhelming majority of Episcopal clergy in the Fort Worth diocese favor pursuing an "active plan" to bring the diocese into full communion with the Catholic Church.
While declining to specify what that might mean, Mr. Crary said it likely would not mean "absorption" by the Catholic Church.Mr. Crary should think again. Does he truly believe that his group will be in communion with the Roman Catholic Church and not be absorbed by the RCC? In my ever so humble opinion, Fr. Crary is not thinking; he's fantasizing.
Katie Sherrod has a picture of the Brooklyn bridge at the head of her post. I wonder why.