A story in the Times by Ruthie (how we all enjoyed reading her blog, until her employer made her far too expensive a woman for most of us to afford regularly) confirms a rumour I had heard; that some ecclesiatical lawyers are attempting to bully Romeward-bound clergy to resign their orders (this, of course, is quite a different thing from resigning one's job; it has the legal though not sacramental effect of laicisation).
What I have not so far seen explained is why this pressure, which as far as I am aware, has never been brought to bear on previous generations of clergy who have succumbed to the charms of the Scarlet Woman, is now being applied. Is it something to do with the new Clergy Discipline regulations, or is it, as most people suspect, just a crude piece of anti-Ordinariate malevolence?
My own view is that it is part of a crafty and jesuitical Ordinariate plot. It is designed to tip over into the Ordinariate dithering clergy who think there may still be a future in the C of E. By suggesting the manic nastiness of the Establishment, the Ordinariate chappies clearly hope to get a big second tranche on the move as soon as possible.
As lawyers say, cui bono? Or do they?
I think you've got a dose of conspiracy-theory-itis, Father.
ReplyDeleteI had read rumours about this on Facebook, but nobody has yet seen fit to annoy Mr Murdoch and his henchpersons by recopying the relevant material onto their blogs or into comment boxes.
On further reflection, I think it's just a bunch of grasping crooked lawyers in search of an new revenue stream. Nothing new there then.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the lawyers were merely stating what the law is to cover themselves. I doubt if any Bishop is stupid enough to go down that road.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the lawyers have to be crooked necessarily; it is in their DNA..... cover your back and be prepared for any eventuality (Handbook of Messrs Sue, Grabbit, and Runne).
ReplyDeleteIf they did try to enforce this and somebody resisted,would we have a trial for heresy?
Trial for heresy? I can just hear Fr Broadhurst "Bring it on!"
ReplyDeleteAhhh, Erastianism. When will the pollies finally get around to the disestablishment of the C. of E., delivering her Babylonian Captivity?
ReplyDeleteIs it still the done thing at the University, Fr H., to read the Bidding Prayer before Sermon, declaring the Queen's styles and titles, "over all estates of men in these her Dominions supreme"?
Would this be the document in question, on which the Times articles was based?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.churchofengland.org/media/1173305/gs%20misc%20979.pdf