The reckoning

The Rt Rev Jonathan Goodall (left), Bishop of Ebbsfleet and Tantur International Advisory Board Member, with the Anglican delegation for the canonization
  of  Oscar Romero, led by Archbishop Emeritus of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, fourth from left.                           Photo  Anglican Communion News Service.

The well connected Bishop of Ebbsfleet is stepping down in order to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church

Anglican bishop of Ebbsfleet resigns to join Roman Catholic church announced the Guardian before adding: "An Anglican bishop opposed to the ordination of women has resigned to join the Roman Catholic church" as if opposition to the ordination of women is somehow reprehensible.

The secular press is not interested in theological explanations. Why should it be? Many Anglican provinces are no longer interested in theology and differ little from secular organisations but the reckoning is nigh. 

THE COUNTERFEIT "GOSPEL" OF AFFIRMING CATHOLICISM By David W. Virtue, DD, says it as it is. A story of betrayal: "It has been slowly dawning on me that Satan's real work of destroying and deconstructing the Christian Faith in the Anglican Communion is not the obvious or bald-faced lie. Christians can easily spot it and mercifully reject it. Tens of millions of Anglicans, mostly from Africa, Asia and South America have seen through the lie of homosexuality. But what Satan is masterful at is the half-truth, the counterfeit lie and "Did God say"?

ANGLICAN PRELATE FLEES GAY GHETTO FOR ROME shouts Church Militant: "A prominent Anglican bishop is quitting the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church of England, which is dominated by homosexual clergy, to embrace the Roman Catholic Church." Out of the frying pan into the fire?

Of course there are homosexual clergy. The difference for Anglicans in the West is that the Church is desperate to make it normal, particularly in the Church in Wales where homosexuals are especially welcome while those who keep the faith are rejected.

Clergy unable to accept the ordination of women on theological grounds have been forced to travel to England for the Chrism Mass because the mean-minded bench of bishops would not allow Provincial Episcopal Visitors to celebrate in Wales. 

There was an exception in 2017. The Requiem Mass for Bishop David Thomas. The Principal Celebrant was the Right Reverend Jonathan Goodall, Bishop of Ebbsfleet.

Bishop Thomas was Wales' first and last Provincial Assistant Bishop, an office scrapped by archbishop Barry Morgan, despite promises to the contrary, as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

The venue for the Requiem Mass was St Mary’s Priory Church where Bishop David held most of his Ordination Services and Chrism Mass. 

Bishop Jonathan was denied the opportunity of continuing that tradition. I am sure readers will join me in wishing him well.