An embracing, expansive catholicism

I have a confession to make - I check in regularly on EWTN, the very conservative Roman Catholic television network created by Mother Angelica. My most recent use of the remote caught a report that now an eleventh diocesan bishop has decided to withhold funds from the Campaign for Human Development. This is the arm of the US Roman Catholic Church that does so much good in combating poverty and injustice. Apparently they are involved in efforts that offend the conservative purists. For better or worse, I think immediately of the recent news that the Archbishops of Canterbury & York will be proposing a "scheme" (a wonderful British term) regarding the movement towards having bishops who are women in the Church of England. Their plan is described by one commentator as: "The Church of England definitely believes that women may be priests – and that they may not be. Hilarity ensues." read it here

As the Anglican communion seems to be in retreat from its historic comprehensiveness, as our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters seem to be sliding farther and farther from the hope of Vatican II, I give thanks for such groups as the Society of Catholic Priests (just about to form a New England chapter) and Affirming Catholicism, which recognize both the power and value of the deep tradition of our catholic faith as Anglicans - and the possibility of movement, change and renewal, precisely because of the fullness and breadth of that catholic faith.