Swimming across
The York Forum discussion board is commenting on Fr. Taylor Marshall of the Canterbury Tales blog (to whom I link) who has renounced his orders in the ECUSA and who is entering the R.C. Church. Dr. William Tighe (who posts at Pontifications on occasions and writes for Touchstone) reported:
Fr. Taylor Reed Marshall, formerly Curate of St. Andrews, Fort Worth, has renounced his Orders in ECUSA and will be rec’d into the Catholic church [sic] by Bp. Vann of Fort Worth this Saturday (May 20), together with his wife and children. At the end of the month they will be moving to Washington, DC, where TRM will take up a position as assistant to Msgr. William Stetson for “Anglican Use” matters. He will be present a the Anglican Use conference in Scranton in June, where I hope that he will be heartily welcomed, and greeted especially by those whom I count as my friends who will be there.
I wish Fr. Marshall and his family well.
As to the Anglican Use in the R.C. Church —“ well, I don’t get it.
At best it’s a stop gap measure to accommodate Anglicans who are swimming the Tiber in an effort to escape the heterodoxy of the ECUSA. It’s why I think swimming the Bosporus makes more sense. The Orthodox require a process of integration and there is no false expectation left in the mind of those converting. You must become and integrate yourself within the fullness of Orthodoxy. That’s indicative of the fact that Orthodoxy sees itself on a road toward becoming, toward Theosis.
If Anglicans wish to go to Rome, that’s fine, but why bring the trappings of Anglicanism? Getting on the road to becoming is a more truthful stance. There would be far fewer problems if people had to face the fullness of their decisions —“ making clear choices. The R.C. Church is exactly what it is. Why would people choose to delude themselves as if they have the power, wisdom, or longevity to make over the Church?
In my estimation there will be no ‘Anglican Use’ of any substantial magnitude in 25 to 30 years. The married clergy will die off and will not be replaced (can you imagine R.C. Bishops anywhere ordaining married men). They will not be replaced by more Anglican clergy swimming the Tiber, since anyone with any sense of what Church is will have gone somewhere else in those 25 to 30 years, or will have sold their soul.
That leaves the congregations in these AU parishes, which will age out. Their replacement generation will remember the beautiful liturgies but will walk away when the AU parishes get ‘integrated’. There will be the typical hurt feelings and failure to listen and meet their needs.
It’s sad and it is a warning sign to all those who push for headlong integration with the R.C. Church. They delude themselves greatly. Campos is feeling the effects of integration, the SSPX will if it chooses to integrate, and the Anglicans will as well.
As always we pray for reconciliation and the grace to overcome the sin that is a barrier to that. It must be recognized that sin exists on every side and that we need the light of the Holy Spirit to show every party the way forward.
Good luck Fr. Marshall.
“At best it’s a stop gap measure to accommodate Anglicans who are swimming the Tiber in an effort to escape the heterodoxy of the ECUSA. It’s why I think swimming the Bosporus makes more sense.”
Perhaps they should be directed to the Susquehanna instead of the Bosporus.
Michael,
I agree, and a shorter drive as well.
The key is that whatever they decide to drive or swim should entail a commitment to reaching the other side. That’s why Mr. Kimel (the Pontificator) gets it right. He made a commitment to embrace the R.C. Church in its fullness. Others have done so with Orthodoxy. I have done it with the PNCC. That’s why the AU makes no sense to me.
Being who we are, we have the tendency to look back, to long for ‘those days’. Remember Springsteen’s song ‘Glory Days’. The scriptures give us a different take on that urge. Remember Lot’s wife? Better yet, remember Jesus telling us to leave father and mother and home to follow Him?
When I came to the PNCC I brought certain experiential baggage with me. Being who I am, I committed to studying so that I could reach some sort of understanding as to why the PNCC was an instant home for me.
It definitely wasn’t ethnic – my particular parish is as multicultural as any. It wasn’t just the people – although they were all wonderful, welcoming, and supportive. It was the Spirit, who as today’s Gospel tells us, gives us clarity and understanding. Because of that, it was far easier to set aside the baggage I didn’t need and integrate the rest (which was not difficult). As such, I am not a Roman Catholic in PNCC clothing. I am a member of the PNCC in its fullness.
I would hope that our ECUSA friends can see that. If they swim the Susquehanna we’ll be there holding a towel for them. Just commit to reaching the other side.