THE P RTAL


March 2011 A spy in our midst?


HAVE YOU NOTICED how the British media seem incapable of referring to the Ordinariate without conjuring up images of cold war conspiracy? Is Fr. Keith Newton a modern Anthony Blunt ? Are those entering the Ordinariate meeting on benches near Westminster Cathedral wearing sunglasses and false moustaches? I rather think not.


‘Defector’ So why do journalists insist on using


that pejorative term ‘defector’ when reporting this recent development in the life of Catholic faith? What a horrid word it is and how it misses the point entirely. In truth it says far more about the attitude and mind-set of an anti-Catholic nation than it does


about those creating history in our day. Te term defector implies an underhand act


on the part of those converting. A defector is neither honourable nor trustworthy. A defector co l l udes in utter betrayal, and are therefore rarely loved even by those they join. Another word for the defector is traitor! See then how this cold war imagery is not only ironic but grossly insulting when used to refer to the Ordinariate.


An act of betrayal Ironic because if an act of betrayal took place then


it happened on the floor of General Synod. Our understanding of ecclesiology has not changed since Newman inspired our movement, whereas the beliefs of the establishment changed beyond recognition.


It


was synod which placed the views of secular society above obedience to the faith of the ages. It was Synod which broke promises and ensured Anglo-Catholics no longer had space to flourish with integrity.


Loyalty What was considered normative belief thirty years


ago is now proclaimed intolerable. We must never forget this fact. Te Ordinariate was a response born from Anglican crisis. Tose responsible for its implementation are the very people who tinker dangerously with the deposit of faith and now prove incapable of caring for their own. Who is the traitor when we consider matters with eyes of faith?


And it is grossly insulting because the term defector


misrepresents where loyalty lies. It suggests we owe fierce allegiance to Anglicanism when our fidelity is surely to Jesus Christ and his Gospel. If we feel forced to leave a liberalised institution then it is only because we believe God’s truth has been abandoned and that full corporate reunion is no longer possible.


Te fact that observers consider it betrayal when Christians walk from a church that


recently “married”


lesbian ministers before a bishop,


one of whom considers


abortion a blessing, is breath-


taking! Why should we remain loyal to an institution in which anything seems to go except fidelity to the faith of the ages? Tere are plenty of clergy who deny central tenets of the creed without


criticism but question the Royal Marriage and expect to be disciplined!


Faithfulness to the Gospel We who enter the Ordinariate were raised Anglican,


we are grateful for our time as Anglicans, but we ultimately consider faithfulness to the Gospel more important than loyalty to a schizophrenic institution. How lamentable that modern Anglicanism finds it easier to tolerate relativism than orthodoxy! Te term defector is not just rude then but inaccurate. Far from being involved in an act of desertion we are acting out of fidelity to Catholic truth.


Oh well! If we must be labelled defectors then


fine, it is a small price to pay. Let us just hope that our ‘defection’ forces Anglicans to confront their abandonment of faith and builds a lasting bridge to lead others to Peter. Let our walking be our talking! Calling all defectors! Calling all defectors!


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