Homily for Trinity Sunday

Sorry! The recorder gadget didn't work today so no podcast of the homily for Trinity Sunday.

Anglican Agonies

Let me speak from the heart. I was an Anglican for fifteen years: for most of that time I was an Anglican in England, first a theological student, then a priest. My visit this weekend to Church of the Atonement, San Antonio, made me feel nostalgic for those days, and for the great traditions of the Anglican Church.

When I go on to the Anglo-Catholic blogs like Anglican Wanderings and others I feel even more nostalgia for the Anglican Church and all its many treasures. Not only do I feel nostalgia for the fine buildings, the exquisite choral tradition, the hearty and glorious hymns and the quaint customs. I also feel nostalgia for the people. It is easy for me to poke fun at the typical Anglican liberal with his goofy views and gooey theology. However, I realize that there are many Anglicans spread now throughout Anglicanism and the various Anglican breakaway groups who only wish to remain faithful to 'Mere Christianity' and wish to preserve the historic Christian faith.

In visiting Church of the Atonement, I was saddened at how few Anglicans have taken advantage of the Vatican's offer within the Pastoral Provision. The Catholic Church has said, "Have your own liturgy, have your own buildings, have married priests." Only a handful of Anglican clergy and people (it seems) have even considered the possibility. What does this say about the Anglican's goodwill and ecumenical intent? 

I realize the Anglican Use is not allowed in England, but would many more Anglicans really have taken advantage of it if it were? I doubt it. I don't know what has kept more Anglicans from responding positively here in the United States. Perhaps it is what would have to be sacrificed to make it go. Fr Phillips went with a wife and three young children across the country and was offered a mere $1,000.00 a month. On this he was to support his family, start a church and minister full time. He went to minister to just 18 people at first.

This is what would be required: to step out in faith and do something new. To step out and be prepared to risk all, to work hard, to be misunderstood and to trust God totally. That sort of heroic faith is hard to come by.

Nevertheless, whether they come and pioneer the Anglican Use as Fr Phillips has done, and as has been done in a handful of other places in the US, or whether they come, leaving all to join the Catholic Church with no conditions--as Fr Jeffrey Steel has done this weekend--these faithful men and their courageous wives and families must be welcomed with open arms, with generous hearts and with willing response of faith.

The convert clergy bring great gifts to the Catholic Church, but they also receive much. I can say from my own experience that even the smallest step of faith yields a rich harvest over time.

What is the greatest thing any non-Catholic can do to further Church unity? The answer is simple: become a Catholic. As they bring their gifts, their faith, their enthusiasm and their love for Christ and his Church they will bring others and the cascade of graces will continue to overflow--blessing them, their families, their church and the whole Church of Christ. 

This cascade of blessings will also come with a whole raft of difficulties, sacrifices and agonies, but these also are only a part of the greater blessings which are in store. For those who faithfully take the step the blessings will be abundant and will come in more mysterious and moving ways than you can yet imagine.

My encouragement to Jeffrey and any others who may be paying attention is this: Launch out into the deep. The Savior is calling you to do some serious wave walking. Step out of the boat. He will not fail you, and as you step out, remember that it was Peter who did this before you and it is he that you choose to follow all the way home.

The Vicar on Buddhist Bishops

Guest blogger, The Rev'd Humphrey Blytherington, Vicar of St Hilda's Little Snoring and All Saints', Great Snoring weighs in on matters Anglican...

Down at the Goose and Garter the other evening one of the lads asked a bit of a sticky question about the Anglican Church. They're just an ordinary group of hearty menfolk, but they do come up with some corkers from time to time.

"Say, Vicar, What do you make of this new Anglican bishop who is a Buddhist?" one of them called out.

Naturally I was a bit flustered. I must admit that comparative religions was not my forte at theological college. It was all I could do to play rugger, learn to sing the odd psalm and cram for a Greek exam. But I do remember one or two things old Canon Farnsworth told us about Buddhism.

So I said, "What do you lads think of it all?"

"If he wants to be a Buddhist, why don't he move to China?" Jimmy calls out. "Yeh, we don't want no yellow devils 'ere." another lad shouted out.

"Now then lads," I said, "No need to be unkind to a fellow just because he happens to be different from you. Besides, I thought you said this chap was a bishop Stateside."

"That's right. He's a Yank! They're a daft lot. Why does he want to follow some slanty eye religion?"

"Here, here," I smiled, "Let's not be un kind to others!" I said, "I don't have much time for things Oriental myself --although I must admit, Mrs. Vicar and I enjoy the odd Chinese take away of an evening--nothing like a nice portion of sweet and sour pork on a lap tray with the Benny Hill Show)

Personally, I can see nothing wrong with a parson dabbling in Buddhism if that's what he fancies. Can't do any harm can it? What's all the fuss? I expect this bishop Stateside knows what he's doing and a little bit of Eastern religion might help to attract immigrants to the Church. You never know--the fellow might have a special mission to folks in Chinatown.

What I don't understand is why the fellow would bother. From what I understand Buddhism is a rather charming religion. It's ancient, peaceful, has fairly pleasant customs and you don't have to believe anything. 

Why should a fellow bother to convert to Buddhism when he already has all that within the good old C of E?

Fr Jeffrey Steel to Become Catholic

Please pray for fellow American, Anglophile and Anglican priest, Fr Jeffrey Steel. He and his family are just about to be received into the Catholic Church. Jeffrey is living in England. He and his wife and large family will need housing, employment and visible means of support as they take this step. He announced his decision on his blog yesterday. Read about it here.

Holy Trinity

(Click to enlarge) 

...on earth as it is in Heaven

Church of the Atonement

Twenty five years ago Fr Christopher Phillips responded to a call. A handful of Episcopalians in San Antonio, Texas had the dream of becoming Catholics while retaining their Anglican heritage. As a young Episcopal priest with a wife and three children, Fr. Christopher moved to San Antonio. The people got together and promised him all they could manage: $1,000.00 a month. On this he had to support his family and build a church.

Today the Church of the Atonement has a beautiful church, a school with over 500 students on a growing campus. Their liturgy is the Anglican Use Catholic liturgy. It was a delight to join them for Mass on Thursday evening, concelebrated with their bishop. On Friday evening we enjoyed Solemn Evensong. It was amazing how all the old Anglican prayers came back to me after all these years.

Church of the Atonement is truly and amazing and unique accomplishment. The great sadness is to see what great things have been done by one faithful, creative and hard working priest with his people. Here were a group of Anglicans who took the Catholic Church at her word.

The Vatican said, "You can have your own liturgy. You can have your own church buildings. You can have married priests." While the vast majority of Anglicans have turned up their nose at the offer or complained that they still were not 'being valued enough', Fr. Christopher and his people have created a beautiful and truly amazing parish.

Enjoy the pictures and visit their website and Fr. Phillips' blog.

Todd on Institutionalized Murder

For all the latest news and intelligent comment we go now to our guest blogger, MSM journalist, Todd Unctuous.

Yesterday in Germany, which is a country in Europe, President Barack Obama paid a courageous visit to a concentration camp where millions of innocent people were killed by a ruthless regime. Laying a single white rose on a memorial stone, the President was solemn as he paid tribute to the millions who were killed by a regime that sanctioned murder.

This brave and courageous man who had a relative who was involved in the second world war said, "It is a callous and cruel government that sanctions the murder of millions of innocent people." He's right, and what really makes me think twice is the realization that Adolph Hitler and his Nazi henchmen were actually elected by the German people. Millions of Germans stood idly by as mass murder took place. What a terrible thing mass murder is, and Barack Obama is a courageous and noble leader because he has the guts to stand up against mass murder of innocent people.

He is the same man who has stood up to the Pope in Rome, who has sentenced millions to death in Africa because he is against the use of condoms. Barack Obama is for the African people. He is for the down trodden. He wants to empower the powerless. He is for women. This is why he has also been such a brave and staunch defender of the right of women to have reproductive health care. This is why he has signed a bill into law which funds free access to the termination of pregnancies for women in the third world.

As a result of this courageous move millions of children from poor and racially subnormal families will never have to endure the terrible lives they would no doubt lead. Through his courageous advocacy of reproductive choice he too has followed in the footsteps of courageous leaders of the past who have gone before him who have taken the courageous choice to solve the problem of inferior people making the world a bad place.

Like Margaret Sanger and the German leaders of old, our own President has had the courage to make tough choices. He has seen the problem, and it is too many poor, socially inferior children being born. He has taken the decision to help solve the problem, and he has had the insight to find a final solution.

Todd Unctuous is forty two.

PS: To learn more about Todd Unctuous check out this important post.

San Antonio Rocks

After two posts which were (ahem) in the lower regions, something a little lighter.

Why is it that I get the chance to visit all the nicest places in America? Greenville, South Carolina is one of the best places to live. Last week I got to go to Savannah, Georgia, which was magnifico and now San Antonio.

I didn't realize what a beautiful city this was. Last night was the Thanksgiving Mass for the second graduating class of Atonement Academy with a banquet and speeches. Today we went along the famous river walk, ate at a Mexican restaurant alongside the river and visited the Alamo. Davy Crockett said to people in Tennessee--"You can go to hell. I'm going to Texas."...a quip which could be taken a number of ways if ever there was one.

This evening is Solemn Evensong followed by the commencement ceremony at which yours truly, for some silly reason, was invited to speak. A nice fringe benefit is the proper opportunity to wear my ferraiuolo and biretta.

Photos to follow, and more about the fantastic and unique achievement of Fr. Christopher Phillips and the people of Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio.

Homosexuality and Pedophilia

I have been scolded recently for not being sensitive enough about the subject of homosexuality because I have lumped it in with a whole list of other perversions. This, it was said, may be 'hurtful' to gay people.

To tell the truth, I don't often write about this subject because I realize how complex and difficult the situation is for people with same sex attraction. I take the Catholic view that people with same sex attraction should be accepted and treated with compassion and love just like anyone else. At the same time, homosexual actions are objectively speaking, gravely disordered.

Should sodomy be grouped with bestiality, necrophilia, pedophilia and a whole list of other disorders? Once we get past the sentimentality on the subject, and once we get past the political correct dictats of the purveyors of propaganda, and once we get past the heated emotions and look objectively at what sodomy actually is, then it should be on the same list as the other sexually related disorders. It's simple: the action involved is un natural and therefore immoral.

It is argued that it should not be so black and white. Homosexual acts between loving, consenting adults in a long term relationship are very different from pedophilia. Is that necessarily so? There are simply too many undefined, sentimental terms going on here. What is a 'loving relationship'? Who defines it? Is it self defined? In other words, the relationship is loving if I say it is loving. The term 'loving relationship' is totally fluid and subjective.

"Long term"? Who defines that? Is "long term" one month, two months, two years? What is long term and who says so?

The term 'consenting' is similarly fluid. What constitutes consent? If a person is tipsy, confused over his sexual orientation, immature, under stress from a range of sources and he gets involved in a relationship no one forced him, but did he truly and really consent? It's arguable. 

The term 'adult' is just as rubbery. Who is an adult and what constitutes 'adult consent'? All of us have known fifty year old men who behave like eighteen year old jerks and fifty year old women who behave like sixteen year old bimbos. For that matter we also know teenagers and even children who make remarkably responsible and mature decisions when they have to. Some psychologists say that one of the dynamics of the homosexual condition is a stunted and protracted adolescence. Grown men who continue in a boyish same sex attraction long after they should have outgrown it.

What is most scary about these subjective and sentimental and politically correct arguments in favor of homosexuality is that the same arguments can be used by the pedophiles. They will say, "Loving? My relationship with this ten year old boy is very loving. Wow! I really do love him and he really loves me." Who is to deny that this is true? The pedophile will go on and say, "Long term? I've been in a relationship with the boy for over a year now, and I will until he's twenty. That is ten years. That's pretty good going. Furthermore, I'll stay in touch with him and he's free to go when he wants. My love for him will always be there."

They'll follow the other arguments too. "Consenting? Adult? What do those terms mean? My ten year old boyfriend is more 'adult' than many adults I know, and he has always consented to my love. I never forced myself on him. I'm not a rapist." 

All that remains is the public's disgust at pedophilia, and they will say, "You might find what I do to be unpleasant, but for me it is beautiful and loving. You have no right to judge me. I've been this way for as long as I remember. I have always been attracted to children. What you're doing is denying me my civil rights and tramping on my freedom."

Do remember that what I have written here I find abhorrent. I'm simply stating the fact that the sentimental, subjective and politically correct arguments in favor of homosexuality can be used very effectively for just about anything.

San Antonio

I'm off to San Antonio tomorrow morning to give the commencement address at Atonement Academy--the school linked with Church of the Atonement--the Anglican Use Parish in San Antonio.

Fr Christopher Phillips is a fellow blogger, Anglophile and former Anglican married priest.

I'm told it will be 'as hot as the hinges of hell' down there, but after 25 years living in the damp land I don't mind.

St Charles Lwanga

Charles Lwanga was the head of King Mwanga's household in Uganda in the 1880s. King Mwanga was a notorious sodomite and kept a household of boys and young men for his pleasure. When his Christian steward, Joseph Mkasa rebuked him, King Mwanga had him beheaded. Charles Lwanga stepped up and tried to protect the boys at court and instruct them in the faith. Eventually the king found out what was going on and ordered them all to be killed. The story of their martyrdom can be read in detail here.

As President Obama declares June to be LBGT celebration month the martyrdom of Charles Lwanga and his companions on this day seems horribly ironic. Here is an African saint and his brave young companions who died to preserve purity and to take a stand against pedophilia, euphebophilia and sodomy and today an African American President of the United States declares a whole month in which Americans are supposed to celebrate not just sodomy but lesbianism, bi-sexuality and trans genderism.

The decadence of nineteenth century Uganda led to violence, torture and death for those who stood up against it. I don't know of one faithful Catholic family who has not had to go through some kind of difficulty in the present decadent sexual climate in our country. If you believe fornication and co habitation and artificial contraception and abortion and lesbianism and homosexuality and sodomy and pedophilia and euphebophilia and trans vestitism and trans gender and the rest of the whole long list of perversions are wrong, and if you stand up for purity and marriage and life and faith and goodness you may not be tortured and killed, but you will be thought a fool.

You will be called 'judgmental' by other Christians and other Catholics and other family members. You will be labelled 'legalistic' 'out of touch' 'lacking in compassion' 'arrogant' 'cruel' and 'unChristlike'. As the world continues to go it's way faithful Catholics will increasingly be seen to be like Amish people: brave crazies who cling to an out moded way of life for bizarre religious reasons.

Take heart. It's only when it takes some guts to be a Christian that the faith really prospers. Remember the gospel is only good news when it is subversive, and each one of us will be called to take a stand. Pray for the courage to do so, and pray for the courage not to be a hypocrite yourself in these matters.

St Charles Lwanga, pray for us.

Mantilla the Hon on Sneakers at Mass

Hon, let me tell you something.  I mean listen, I don't want to sound like Imelda Marcos, but it's true. Shoes matter. 

I was over there at Fr. Elvis' parish the other week for Pentecost, and guess what? He's wearing red cowboy boots! You can see them under his robes. He come strutting up the aisle very proud of hisself and after he say, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" he say, "Today is Pentecost and I get the chance to wear my red cowboy boots." Everybody starts laughing. They love Fr. Elvis and think he is real cool. I'm not lying. This really happened. Then he preaches all about how he loves watching reality TV shows and tells everyone that Mass is like a reality TV show.

OK. I'm getting off track, but not really. Over in Spain where I come from they teach the children that shoes are how you judge somebody. You know? If a man has not shined his shoes when he comes to work the boss think, "This guy doesn't care." If a woman wears sloppy old slippers to work her boss think, "This woman doesn't care." You know what happens when it's time for a promotion? The guy with good shoes gets it. The girl with nice shoes gets it. What happens when a boy goes to take out a girl? First thing her father does is look at his shoes. Right away he knows whether the boy comes from a good family or not. A girl meets the family of her boyfriend? They look at her shoes. Is she wearing slinky red high heels? They know right away that she is not serious. You know? Shoes matter.

Maybe you think, "Come on Mantilla, this is just shoes." No. That's not right. Shoes are important.

What about the servers at Mass? There they are wearing robes and serving at  Mass and you see them wearing old sneakers underneath. You know these sneakers sometimes smell like dead weasels. This is not good. Then one time I see this girl wearing flip flops with sequins on them. Another girl is wearing slingback sandals in hot pink. I'm not lying. One time I see a boy wearing those sneakers that have wheels built in and he's rolling down the aisle on them for a minute. Another time this boy is kneeling down at Mass and he has red lights flashing all around the heel of his sneakers. What kind of dumb is this? Eh?

At the University of Salamanca where I did my degree in Ecclesiastical Haberdashery we were taught that the servers wear black dress shoes. And they must be shined real good. That's it. You're in the Lord's army. If you are in the Marines do you think you would get away with sneakers that light up or sneakers that smell like dead weasels? I don't think so. The drill sergeant would eat you for dinner... Slowly.

But at Mass everybody seems to think it is ok. Let me tell you hon. It is not ok. Why don't the priests just tell the servers the rules? It's just exactly like at those restaurants, but a little bit different: They say, "No shirt, No Shoes. No Service." I say, "No Shiny Black Shoes No Service."

Think about it hon. These kids are serving in the court of the king of heaven. Would you wear sneakers to go visit King Juan Carlos? I don't think so. You let the kids wear sneakers to Mass soon they want to wear shorts and T-shirt and next thing they don't want to go at all. 

There's nothing to argue about. Get the black shoes. No sneakers. No hush puppies. No sandals. No slingbacks. No high heels, and no red cowboy boots either. I don't care if you are the priest.

Fr Cutie

Someone was amused by Rev'd Blytherington's comments, but asked for my serious views on Fr Cutie's scandal and the Episcopal Church's quick pick up. I think they thought that the views of a married priest would be interesting to hear.

I don't know that my being married has much to do with it at all. Yes, I have a wife and four beautiful children, but I was a celibate Anglican priest for seven years before I married. I have lived both lives and can tell you that there are sacrifices to be made both ways and there are rewards to be had both ways.

My being married doesn't affect the facts of the case. Fr Cutie made a vow of celibacy. He knew what he was doing, and did so after (one presumes) careful thought, much prayer and a good formation. It was a public vow, and now he has broken that vow publicly. He has compounded his broken vow by leaving the Catholic Church. This has added to the scandal that he has caused. 

Enough talk about 'love' and 'people should be able to do what they want as long as they don't hurt anybody.' Even if that were true (and it is certainly not the foundation of any rational moral theology) it isn't true that scandal doesn't hurt anybody. Fr Cutie has hurt lots of people by breaking his vow of celibacy. He hurt people who looked up to him. He hurt children and the faithful who thought he was for real. He hurt himself and he hurt the woman with whom he is consorting.

Notice that this judgement has nothing to do with whether or not priests ought to be able to be married. Whether you agree with celibacy for priests or not, that is not the issue. The issue is that Fr Cutie took a sacred vow publicly and he broke it publicly and he made it worse by not repenting, but by justifying his actions and leaving the Catholic faith.

While one can make this judgement based on canon law and Catholic moral theology notice that I am not judging the state of his eternal soul or his final destiny. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, or if you like, it ain't over 'til the judge sits down. Fr Cutie is in God's hands and all we can do is pray that he will one day turn again and repent, and therefore our prayer for him is the same prayer we have for all men and most of all for ourselves.

Now what do I think of it all as a married man and a priest? Again, that's a red herring. We're all called to be faithful to our Christian calling within our state of life, and what this means is that we are all called to chastity. If we're married we have to be faithful to one spouse for life. If we're single we're not to engage in sexual relations with nobody nohow. 

It's simple, but it's not easy. A married man therefore has to practice continence. Within the Catholic law of love he also has to practice restraint during fertile periods if he and his wife do not desire another child. I think this is just as demanding as celibacy isn't it, and when his union is fruitful he is called to be a self sacrificing husband and father. Full time. No let up.

One of the reasons the world (and far too many Catholics) think celibacy is so hard for priests is that we have all got used to instant sex on demand with an easy on-off switch for children. If people really saw marriage from a Catholic perspective they would realize that marriage and sex and children is just as demanding and difficult as celibacy. If a man really thought that marriage meant half a dozen children or more, if he really thought that his wife wouldn't be able to work because she was pregnant every two years. If he really thought marriage meant supporting a dozen kids then maybe celibacy wouldn't seem so bad.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking big families or the wonderful rewards that brings. I'm just pointing out that in our society the comparison is between celibacy and total sexual 'freedom', and so no wonder celibacy looks so grim.

The real choice is between the total self sacrifice of celibacy or the total self sacrifice of a big family.

As for the Episcopal Church's quick pick up of Fr Cutie...I think the less said the better lest I become even more uncharitable, judgmental and self righteous than I already am.

Nuther Blogger Award

People keep nominating this blog for awards and I keep getting humiliated by Fr Z and Thomas Peters (the American Papist) Anyhow, click, register, find Standing on My Head in the Best Blog by a cleric division and vote if you wish!

Dale and Dwight's Big Adventure