Well yes, if you're in the Diocese of Peterborough and busy welcoming Debbie Sellin to one of the COE's pointed hat top jobs. Debbie will become one of the shrinking denom's small cadre of wymxn bishops, presently numbering 7 out of 22 diocesans. Hardly enough, it must be said.
In the old days they used to argue that if we didn't ordain wymxn no one would take us seriously. We did and they didn't, hence today's pivot; wymxn in Holy Orders is a fundamental right, per equity, As in, if you don't do this you're evil.
So what does that make Christ and the Apostles, who famously didn't ordain wymxn? Bad sinners. And what does that make of Christ's divinity? Not very much, they don't believe in it much anyway. That in mind, an Anglo-Catholic in the COE has to consider this.
Before so very long every new COE priest will have been ordained, directly or indirectly, by a womxn bishop. Are they validly ordained? Good question and it raises a serious flag for Anglo-Catholics. We've always asserted Catholicism for our part of the Church, and we could do so, not least, because our orders were valid. Not anymore, not going into the future, and therein lies another and uncertain story.
Your Pal,
LSP
English Anglo-Catholics have flying Bishops who ordain our Priests. We have just ordained seven in London. No women were involved in ordaining them. BTW there are 42 not 22 Diocesan Bishops in the C of E.
ReplyDeleteThe ecclesiastical garb that looks like it's made from the fabric of a cheap motel comforter is so awe-inspiring, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTraditional ecclesiastical garments, for all, from the upper clergy to the lowest deacon and alter-server. Because majesty and mystery matters.
Part of me wants to say "Since the ordination is done in good faith, He will accept the frocking." And part of me cringes at that question, which leads to 'a priest is a priest when the priest acknowledges himself as a priest.' That's waaaay too protestanistic for this old Catholic soul.