Tuesday 13 March 2012

I told you not to be surprised

I think of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) as a faux church (some comments here and then again here )
I have commented more than once that I would like someone to challenge their use of the term "Anglican Communion" and indeed the word "Traditional" in juxtaposition.
There can only be one meaning of the expression Traditional Anglican Communion....and that is churches which see their roots in the Church of England and continue in Communion with that Church...and particularly as represented by its chief bishop, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Clearly the so called TAC (which may see its roots in the C of E) has severed its communion with Canterbury...the most traditional link with Anglicanism!
Any way, it's falling apart!
In the last couple of weeks a majority of TAC bishops have met and voted out their Primate (who happens to live within my parish boundaries) John Hepworth.
Mr Hepworth (as the Roman Catholic Church of which he was once a member seems intent on calling him) along with his long term amigo John Fleming (a former Anglican priest who became a Roman Catholic) who has had his own troubles of late (see here..and then have a Google....but currently tied up in the courts)....well they have always been intent on claiming credit for the so-called Anglican Ordinariate (see a tangled web here)
Finally....Hepworth has been deposed. Of course he claims that the majority of Bishops had no right to do it.
But I was interested to hear conservative Anglican commentator David Virtue the so-called and self-declared "Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism" at least admitted on ABC Radio that the outlandish claim that the TAC had 400,000 adherents worldwide was always fanciful. He exposes some other bizarre issues here in his account of Hepworth's deposition.
A great churchman once said to me about breakaway churches "Once they've broken away, it's only a matter of time before they split and split again!"  These words have been proved to be very prescient.

2 comments:

A Catholic said...

A great churchman once said to me about breakaway churches "Once they've broken away, it's only a matter of time before they split and split again!" These words have been proved to be very prescient.

That's very funny coming from an Anglican priest!



Sorry, I couldn't resist, I know that wasn't a very intelligent comment. ;-)

Stephan Clark said...

I take the point!! And it is funny. It is also true to say that the Roman Catholic Church has not been free of internal division either.
Ask a Jesuit or a Franciscan, or a Chinese catholic.
Incidentally you style yourself "A Catholic"..and so do I...I also happen to be an Anglican
Sorry, I couldn't resist that!!!

:)