Readers respond to articles about Vatican's proposal to welcome former Anglicans

From Henrietta Wiley • Baltimore, Maryland, Oct 31, 2009 I can't help but wonder if all parties in this new deal know what they're getting themselves into.

On the whole, Anglicans do not like being told what to do, and yet these disaffected Anglicans are about to be join a church that is very much in the habit of telling its members what to do. Does the Vatican understand that it is going to have a bunch of new members on its hands who do not respond well to orders?

Concessions the RCC makes now are just the beginning of what these new congregations will expect. Anglicans will have their way, no matter what church they're in.

IRAQ: St. George's Anglican Church damaged in deadly bomb attack

From The Rev. Ken Herzog • St. Augustine, Florida, Oct 31, 2009 Throughout salvation history, God's people have always been persecuted for the faith. Even innocent children have not been immune to the self-righteousness of these perpetrators. Our hearts and prayers are extended to Deacon White and the congregation of St. George Anglican as they feel the effects of hatred toward our God. This evil act aimed directly at God's Son is a living witness that Satan is behind all of it.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Special convention distances diocese from Episcopal Church

From Ed Clarke • Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Oct 31, 2009 So the Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, the [Rt.] Rev. Mark Lawrence, said (again) at the recent completion of his diocesan convention that he is "not considering breaking away from the Episcopal Church, at least not for the present?" Where have I heard, and read, a similar statement previously? Think he really MEANS it this time? I would certainly hope that he isn't contemplating removing his diocese from the national Episcopal Church--ever! The truth is that he would have no legitimate reason for initiating such an action. And let's not go quotin' the Bible about homosexuality again! After six years of this nonsense, that excuse is gettin' old and moldy! Let's all start living in the 21st century, with its imperfections AND social changes that are bound to have taken place over 2000 years, including a more aggressive gay agenda. Like it or not, they're here to stay. Insulting, degrading, leaving, and otherwise attempting to ruin a venerable, 400-year old denominational church is not going to change anything. Get past it, get over it, and move on. Our churches have more important things to do.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Special convention distances diocese from Episcopal Church

From Corinne Starr • Grand Prairie, Texas, Oct 31, 2009 Oh, for heaven's sake, just depose them now before they make off with the properties and assets. I am fed up with the troublemakers' shouting that they are holy and we Episcopalians are not.

FORT WORTH: First woman priest to be ordained Nov. 15

From Mary Anne Ramer • New York City, New York, Oct 31, 2009 Hallelujah and throw out the misogyny! Thank God the Creator, who is beyond all gender, but is never beyond the calling of all children to ministry.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Special convention distances diocese from Episcopal Church

From Mary Slaby • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Oct 31, 2009 I am a loyal, baptized, Episcopalian, active member of Trinity Episcopal (at least for now) Church, Myrtle Beach. Thank you for your objective view of what happened in the Diocese of South Carolina Saturday. We are very much in jeopardy. Please pray for us and help us get unbiased information. Pray that before voting on very critical issues related to by law changes, property etc. our members will seek God's will, will make the effort to be informed by unbiased information.

FORT WORTH: First woman priest to be ordained Nov. 15

From John Andrews • Demorest, Georgia Oct 31, 2009 Praise God from whom all blessing flow and sometimes it takes just a little longer.

LOS ANGELES: Interfaith group hopes to combat 'Islamophobia'

From Libby Hillhouse • Ryegate, Vermont Oct 31, 2009 Certainly torture is an issue of humanitarian concern, regardless of who are the victims or the perpetrators. When we study Islam in an interfaith context, we are sure to find our Abrahamic brothers and sisters share much more in common than what separates us - and so we must ask, can I torture my brother or sister when I can no longer see him or her as the Other?

FORT WORTH: First woman priest to be ordained Nov. 15

From Bryan Owen • Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, Oct 31, 2009 Having just returned from a poetry and preaching tour of the United States and having listened to far too many stories of pain, discourtesy and suffering, I am delighted at this decision. To those who are against I would say: If God is in this there will be blessing for all concerned; if not the mistake will be there for all to see. Pray for Susan and the people of St Luke's in the Meadow parish, gently keep your counsel, discern the Spirit of God, and follow the dance.

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From Bobbie Adcock • Luzerne, Michigan Oct 31, 2009 I find the hoopla about the Roman Catholic Church making special arrangements to accept disaffected Anglicans interesting. In our parish, I know of only two "cradle" Episcopalians -- everyone else came to us from another tradition, about 1/3 from Roman Catholicism. The only arrangements we make for new congregants is to welcome them and be glad to have them. Perhaps that accounts for our steady increase at a time when so many of the mainline churches report declining participation.

FORT WORTH: First woman priest to be ordained Nov. 15

From Arthur Green • Glen Ellen, California, Oct 31, 2009 Sounds to me like the females are running wild. When will the leadership of TEC realize that along with the ordination of homosexuals, same-sex blessings and other strange acts, TEC will continue on its steady decline. If this tragic scene was taking place in the private sector I'm 100% sure some heads would roll.

What a mess you liberals have made of a fine, old church!

Readers respond to articles about Vatican's proposal to welcome former Anglicans

From The Rev. Rob McCann • Lafayette, California, Oct 31, 2009 As one who has as priest moved from Rome to Canterbury I have the experience to make a salient comment or two.

For eons, perhaps "forever," two groups of people have been historically marginalized within the human community -- women and homosexuals. With the Vatican's action to drum up interest among disenchanted Anglicans to become Roman Catholics the same incessant unequal beat goes on -- and the appeal is precisely these two issues of justice.

The welcome is laced with The Prayer Book (either 1662 or 1928) and the possibility of married male priests. The loss is that a powerful hierarchy continues to disenfranchise not only half of its own members, yet lifts itself up as a model Christian community with no questions entertained or tolerated.

May I invite anyone to visit an Episcopal Church in the neighborhood and see equal opportunity in action.

FORT WORTH: First woman priest to be ordained Nov. 15

From The Rev. Janne Alro Osborne • Austin, Texas, Oct 31, 2009 This has been such a long time coming. I left the Diocese of Fort Worth in 1989 in order to answer God's and the Church's call to priesthood -- and Susan Slaughter was one of the many persons in the diocese who kept up with me and who supported me through seminary and ordinations. And now it is with great, great joy that I will return to Fort Worth to be present at her ordination. Thanks be to God.

Readers respond to articles about Vatican's proposal to welcome former Anglicans

From James Cavanagh • Denver, Colorado Oct 31, 2009 Unfortunately what is missing in all of these comments is any notion that Christ founded and willed one Church, which unfortunately has suffered many rifts and divisions of which "men [sic] of both sides were to blame." The Catholic Church is irrevocably committed to Christian unity, which is and always has been the aim of ecumenical talks. The Pope's pastoral response to disaffected Anglicans is an example of the Catholic Church's commitment to Christian unity.

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