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| Sticking together? Bishop Richard Pain (centre) with Archbishop John Davies to his right and Bishop Gregory Cameron, both former college chums at the former St Michael's Theological College, Llandaff. Source: Bishop hat-trick South Wales Argus |
Enough is enough.
February, the month suggested when the Bishop of Monmouth was likely to take up his duties again, has come and gone. Nine months of impasse. Nine months when Anglicans in the diocese of Monmouth have been left with an absent bishop raising questions about the need for six diocesan bishops.
If Bishop Pain were to be 're-born' in the diocese of Monmouth after his senior clergy have lost confidence in him he would return to office with no moral authority. He should heed advice and retire.
According a Church Times report the bishop is "spoken well of by his flock", unlike the abuse directed by his supporters at those who properly used the established complaints procedure authorised by the Church in Wales.
Claims of smoke without fire make no sense unless intended to rubbish complaints of those who in conscience believe they have a genuine grievance.
Claims of smoke without fire make no sense unless intended to rubbish complaints of those who in conscience believe they have a genuine grievance.
The South Wales Argus reports: Some churches are preparing to withhold parish shares until problems in the Diocese of Monmouth are resolved.
They should have been doing that already in protest against the secularisation of the Church in Wales which has perverted the faith of many for personal satisfaction.
Meanwhile the Church in Wales descends further into obscurity.
Meanwhile the Church in Wales descends further into obscurity.
The problem with your article AB is you fail to mention that the procedure that the complainants properly instigated exonerated Bishop Richard. You can't have it both ways, if you appeal to due process then you have to accept he has been found not to have acted improperly by that same process.
ReplyDeleteWhere I do agree with you is that the whole escapade is a farce with the communications blackout not helping matters. Is he still on gardening leave? Is he off on sick leave? No one seems to know anything. Transparency is not something CiW does well.
Fair point Whamab although I have referenced it in previous entries:
Delete'In this case it appears that the correct procedure was followed. The complaints were not upheld but the complainants refuse to work with the bishop.'
https://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-monmouth-saga-continues.html
and
'Appointed assessors 'exonerated' the bishop of unspecified wrongdoing but he remains absent at the archbishop's request while mediation is in process.'
https://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2019/01/absent-bishop.html
I agree with those who maintain that having been exonerated the bishop should have exercised his authority and returned to duty. That he did not suggests a deep seated problem which has not been resolved by his ridiculously long absence from duty.
If he'd had any balls Richard would have refused to stay away in the first place by calling Shirley's bluff and challenging Sister Lister to do her worst.
DeletePP. I thought Bangor was the acting Bishop, while this fiasco is sorted out. Simple solution would be a translation, Richard to Bangor and Andy to Monmouth, Fresh start for all concerned.
ReplyDeleteNo-one in their right mind would want to go anywhere near the train wreck that is Bangor today.
ReplyDeleteThe extended issue currently troubling Monmouth is perhaps a sign of the last days when people will become 'lovers of self'. Paul said 'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves' [Philippians 2:3]. I think the last thing that should happen is +Andy should translate to Monmouth; that is just allowing the toxin to spread. Sadly, if +Richard is guilty or not, his absence and lack of action has demonstrated that, either he cannot lead or his accusers do have something on him which make it impossible for him to lead. Either way, sadly, he should put the interests of his Diocese first and retire. However, his accusers should not get away with stabbing the shepherd in the back either. The lack of transparency over this issue is startling! ++John has been totally ungracious and less that courteous in the way he has ignored requests for information and action. Meanwhile, while ++John prevaricates, +Richard tries to preserve what little credibility he has left, +Andy advises a diocese while ruining his own and Tonge, Williams and Mason continue to stir the potion in their own cauldron, Monmouth Diocese is left in stalemate and stagnates. Well, absolutely AB, enough is enough! I don't agree with withholding the parish share: this will just add to our woes. But isn't it remotely possible to get some kind of legal judgement on this mess?
ReplyDeleteLukas
Too much time has passed with too little information for those of us in the pews in Monmouth. I agree, time for +Richard to retire
ReplyDeleteMrs Doyle
So Andy Crap, who has cultivated top-down contempt towards the ever-dwindling pool of clergy in his own diocese, lost two excellent archdeacons (three if you include Professor 'Fred' West), who presides over plummeting clergy morale, who appointed the Lavatory Attendant as an archdeacon, who hates being challenged, and has a vindictive, authoritarian streak to his personality, is the person to facilitate resolution in Monmouth?
ReplyDeleteI've heard some hilarious jokes in my time, but this one takes the biscuit. All he will do is divide-and-rule (the only way he knows) and will cause further carnage in a Diocese that can ill afford to go the way Bangor has.
Like readers of this blog, I do not know the precise reasons for Richard Pain's withdrawal from public ministry. However, we do know that due process exonerated him. There is a small issue of justice and truth that is being conveniently overlooked here. Might it be that those members of senior staff, who cannot not accept this decision, are the obstacles to the resolution of this situation? If so, should they not be considering their position and allow the Bishop to continue the ministry to which he was elected? I don't say 'duly elected' simply because, with Barry Morgan's digit in the pie of the Electoral College, everything since 2003 has been fixed to suit his purposes.
And, yes, I agree. Shirley's policy of withholding information has been disastrous. It just compounds the impression of arrogance - and incompetence.
Latest news from the Square is that Bishop Richard has succumbed and agreed to retire.
DeletePP. What a loss to the Church and a flagrant breach of trust by the AB. What a way to end such an unblemished career.
ReplyDeleteI hope if true the new appointee removes the culprits who brought a great man of God, down.
I saw one of the culprits at a meeting earlier this week, looking very smug.
ReplyDeleteIf there was more belief in the calling of God (vocation) they'd treat each other with more respect. Then again, in the hierarchy, there's barely any belief in God full-stop from what I see and hear.
ReplyDeleteSoldier
ReplyDeleteFollowing JH, AB.
Does this mean a translation on the way? Failed Bangor try Monmouth. Move out before unsustainability kicks in hard. Larger mitre near the great office in the Bay. The Ministry Area manifesto will sweep the day; full LGBTQ qualifications impeccably in place like a row of veteran medals though Andy is afraid that the College is insufficiently reformed. Let us see if there is an element of rush for the 'good of the diocese'.
The regnant one is making her moves so as to continue to be the power behind the episcopal throne. Pondering over night with two bottles of wine as to how the right candidates can get onto the Electoral College, and pondering by day over constant Costas with mobile in hand devoid of compassion and tenderness, in short humanity.
The wolf of the north west roams and scatters but it is the hyena who tells him where to go. The hyena would actually like to be a wolf with two natures diabolically confused. He will officially begin to wear shepherd's clothes in June. Meanwhile the sheep do not understand the word "Beware"; they are tired, old and want to go to sleep and strongly tempted not to trust the Lord. The clergy by and large have been bought with the promise of isolation and insecurity unless abject obedience is expressed, even in the silence.
Meanwhile the gay coterie continues to capture Bangor diocese. We await with misery a transgender lesbian with four children (different fathers) to offer herself for ministry.
Pray for us now at the hour of our death.
Is this Fake News? If not, should there not have been an official announcement by now?
ReplyDeletePP. How interesting the BP of Burnley visiting St Mary's Priory Abergavenny for the SSC Synod. Could this be welcome candidate
ReplyDeleteBishop Philip is good man, an orthodox bishop who teaches the faith and proclaims the gospel . He would not be welcome on the Welsh Bench. But as there is no vacancy at the moment and we are all being fed the stuff that mushrooms feed off, the only thing the Welsh Bunch does well, we'll just have to wait and see. I don't think the Holy Spirit will get a look in though.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Ghost was excluded from Llandaff in 1999 and then Wales entirely in 2003.
DeleteHe will find no welcome from the polished turds on the bench.
It appears that here in Monmouth that the Chrism Mass is on Monday of Holy Week according to the diocesan email. No indication of who is to be the episcopal celebrant. Does anyone know? Talk about mushroom management and to cap it all they haven’t had the time to arrange the lunch. Chaos!
ReplyDelete