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| Source: Fr Michael Fisher, New Directions |
In the October issue of Forward in Faith's magazine, New Directions Fr Michael Fisher pays homage at the windswept chapel of St Non in Pembrokeshire - 'In the steps of pilgrims'.
Pilgrimage is a hot topic in the Church in Wales, particularly in Llandaff where Bishop June has decided that the Llandaff Clergy School in 2019 will take the form of a no expenses spared pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain.
Perhaps +June was unaware that much closer to home St Davids Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. In the twelfth century Pope Calixtus II declared that the shrine was so important that two pilgrimages to St Davids were equivalent to one to Rome and three were equivalent to one to Jerusalem.
The extract from Michael Fisher's article illustrates the harsh reality for traditionalist pilgrims in Wales. Given the increasing number of women clergy the chances are that pilgrims who are unable on grounds of conscience to receive the sacramental ministry of women will be denied the opportunity of receiving Holy Communion when visiting St Davids Cathedral.
Elevating secular issues above theology, Joanna Penberthy has said she finds it hard to take that a group of people see women as "that different". Either she has no grasp of the issues involved or she simply lacks any sense of charity by ignoring them.
If, as a bishop, she thinks it is hard for her she should spare a thought for those in her care who are suffering the results of feminist ambitions in the Church in Wales. Faithful women and men, often cradle Anglicans, have been left with absolutely nothing after years of Anglican devotion.
As bishop-elect of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy commented:
"As someone who in the early years was at the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination, I have absolutely no intention of dishing that out so I think it's important that everybody feels free to be honest about their opinions and about their misgivings."
When challenged +Joanna was forced to admit that the alleged discrimination amounted to nothing more than a difference of opinion. Whether she has a short memory or has had a change of heart, the evident misandry in her attack on faithful, elderly male clergy under her care illustrates the 'couldn't care less unless you are one of us' attitude of the bench of bishops and many of the newly ordained clergy, echoing the infamous claim “There is no place for you in this church”.
If Joanna Penberthy is, as archbishop Barry Morgan claimed, "the best person to be a bishop" that doesn't say much of the rest of the bench. By their fruits you will know them!
The bench of bishops appear to be completely ignorant of the fact that within a generation there will be no Church in Wales for anyone to find a place in according to expert opinion here which confirms a conclusion reached back in 2015 here.
Doubters among the few remaining Anglicans who still regularly attend diminishing services should look around at the aging faces with no young families to provide future congregations for the new brand of clergy who committed to change, usually for their own benefit.
Whether they see it or not, former bishops have been heard to say that the Church in Wales is finished.
A sad end for faithful pilgrims.
Perhaps +June was unaware that much closer to home St Davids Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. In the twelfth century Pope Calixtus II declared that the shrine was so important that two pilgrimages to St Davids were equivalent to one to Rome and three were equivalent to one to Jerusalem.
The extract from Michael Fisher's article illustrates the harsh reality for traditionalist pilgrims in Wales. Given the increasing number of women clergy the chances are that pilgrims who are unable on grounds of conscience to receive the sacramental ministry of women will be denied the opportunity of receiving Holy Communion when visiting St Davids Cathedral.
Elevating secular issues above theology, Joanna Penberthy has said she finds it hard to take that a group of people see women as "that different". Either she has no grasp of the issues involved or she simply lacks any sense of charity by ignoring them.
If, as a bishop, she thinks it is hard for her she should spare a thought for those in her care who are suffering the results of feminist ambitions in the Church in Wales. Faithful women and men, often cradle Anglicans, have been left with absolutely nothing after years of Anglican devotion.
As bishop-elect of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy commented:
"As someone who in the early years was at the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination, I have absolutely no intention of dishing that out so I think it's important that everybody feels free to be honest about their opinions and about their misgivings."
When challenged +Joanna was forced to admit that the alleged discrimination amounted to nothing more than a difference of opinion. Whether she has a short memory or has had a change of heart, the evident misandry in her attack on faithful, elderly male clergy under her care illustrates the 'couldn't care less unless you are one of us' attitude of the bench of bishops and many of the newly ordained clergy, echoing the infamous claim “There is no place for you in this church”.
If Joanna Penberthy is, as archbishop Barry Morgan claimed, "the best person to be a bishop" that doesn't say much of the rest of the bench. By their fruits you will know them!
The bench of bishops appear to be completely ignorant of the fact that within a generation there will be no Church in Wales for anyone to find a place in according to expert opinion here which confirms a conclusion reached back in 2015 here.
Doubters among the few remaining Anglicans who still regularly attend diminishing services should look around at the aging faces with no young families to provide future congregations for the new brand of clergy who committed to change, usually for their own benefit.
Whether they see it or not, former bishops have been heard to say that the Church in Wales is finished.
A sad end for faithful pilgrims.
Yes, AB, isn't it odd that a bishop could lash the faithful using the flimsy and untrue excuse of the difficulty of obtaining insurance cover? She seems a pleasant person, but look at her actions. She should indeed consider her position.
ReplyDeleteJune
Joanna, the shepherd's crook is for protecting not hammering the sheep!
ReplyDeleteJeremy
True, Jeremy, for rescuing the lambs, not for battering the other shepherds.
ReplyDeleteJames
What is the point of including an email address for the bishop of St Davids on the diocesan website when she does not reply?
ReplyDeleteJames
As was highlighted on a previous thread, this piece by a leading Anglican academic tells us all we need to know about the future of the Church in Wales under the leadership of Joanna, Andy Crap and, ultimately, the Golfer.
ReplyDeletehttps://livingchurch.org/covenant/2018/10/22/mission-in-europe-and-the-future-of-anglicanism/
Having witnessed the demise of Non-conformity on their watch, they blindly followed and repeated its fatal mistakes with their half-baked survival plan based on Misery Areas. My word, the estate agents are going to be busy in Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys in years to come.
Meanwhile, the dioceses of London and Europe grow by reaping the harvests sown by bishops whose generous orthodoxy has clearly inspired their clergy and produced impressive results.
Either of the current two main St Davids archdeacons (and the last one who retired) would have made a more administratively competent, less divisive, more theologically orthodox and more pastoral bishop than the highly publicised - 'Isn't it wonderful, a female bishop!' - Jo. A fact.
ReplyDeleteDisgruntled
Not sure I understand what you mean as ‘main’ archdeacons. Do you mean the 2 longest serving, although one has been in office for many years and the other for only just a year. I presume you don’t mean the ex bishop’s chaplain?
DeleteHe answers letters and is polite on the phone.
DeleteDisgruntled
The CiW cannot keep electing or choosing from the bench the wrong people for the Episcopate. I don't want to hear about the Spirit's superintendence over the process - that only works if people are listening and applying spiritual criteria for the candidates and not being influenced by vested interests.
ReplyDeleteI guess as the pool of talented priests gets smaller, the lesser the appointments to the bench - unless some really brave decisions are made to bring in truly gifted leaders with the moral authority to turn the tide.