Women Bishops - Not Yet - The Reason Why!

Shot in the Foot

Gras, Watch and the rest of them have a lot to answer for, including the defeat of their own cause.

Radical, intransigent, vocal, and "gimme-all" they have prevented the logical development of the ordination of women to the priesthood.

They need not blame the so-called "traditionalists." The latter put forward sensible arrangements which they refused. The suggestions of the archbishops were rejected with much rejoicing by the feminist lobby.

Why?

I cannot think why. I only know that they failed.

All that I realise is that if earlier suggestions, to cater for the one-third to a quarter of the membership in the pews which is uneasy about or opposed to women as bishops, had been accepted then we would have everything in place for women to be consecrated as bishops in our church.

Bluntly, GRAS, WATCH and all the rest of them have shot themselves in the foot, leaving the rest of us with the burden of finding a way through again.

The nation will take note. Unfortunately the chattering classes and the media of our nation will blame the wrong people. It was a small caucus of militants in favour of the measure who brought about its downfall. They over-stepped the mark ... and paid for it, having combined arrogance with hubris in large measure.

The phrase "see how these Christians love one another" can only be said with huge irony in the Church of England now. Maybe as aspirants to the bench of bishops, these ladies should consider why they chose not to follow the earlier advice of the archbishops under whom they serve .

Let's hope that they will realise this and get together with those whom they seem to despise so strongly and work out how we can all live and work in peace together once more. A little humble pie all round I think!

Yours ay,

Ted

St. Matilda's Parish - News and Gossip

Hi Everyone,

There is now a news and gossip page for my virtual parish, in its virtual diocese, in its virtual location. You should click here to see it.

As a taster this is a copy of the first posting of the page:

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"News
An update of gossip and news from around the parish and the diocese

Women Bishops Ahoy!

The Diocesan Synod has voted in favour of allowing women to become Bishops in the Church of England and instructed its representatives in General Synod to reflect that in their speeches and how they vote.

However, Hugh Brassingbridge the Co-Chairman of Forward in Faith in the Diocese has taken a very strong view on the matter and says that he will demand proper, legally binding, provision for those who cannot go along with this but wish to remain as faithful Anglicans. His comment that Synods were not soap operas and that we did not have to wait until the GRAS lady sings did not go down very well with several well-appointed (shall we say!) matrons fluent in the French language.

We await his contribution to the various debates, fairly agog with excitement as to where his rhetorical skills will lead him. However well-intentioned his campaign to retain the Provincial Episcopal Visitors in some form may be, we have a feeling it may not succeed.

Our leading feminist has commented "Dear old Hugh! I hope that no one hits him with an umbrella" adding "But he has a point. We could do with far fewer pressure groups and a bit of decent evangelism in the Church of England."

Autumn Events

The November Fayre will be held this year at the Village Hall in Potherton on 19th November from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sir Roger Fairweather, Bt, will be opening it. We look forward to a visit as enjoyable as his last one three years ago.

Study Group

The autumn study group is meeting on Wednesday evenings in the Vicarage. Mass precedes these meetings and starts at 7.30 p.m. The study group itself meets from 8.15 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. All are welcome, but please bring along a Bible and let us know you are coming.

Gossip Piece

We hear that the Bishop is examining a whole deanery-full of clergy along the lines of excising the seven deadly sins. We hope he means society at large and not the learned and reverend ladies and gentlemen of the town under scrutiny! It is understood that this rather unwarranted visitation may well be a reaction to the unfortunate events in the Bishop's predecessor's time surrounding the visit of the ABC "Jack the Mack."

We would assure His Lordship of our complete faith in the Church's ministers in the town concerned.

Items for inclusion on the St. Matilda's Gossip Column and the News Page may be handed in at the Vicarage at any time (during working hours!)"


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For new readers, the foundations of much of the gossip are detailed in several novels, still in the process of writing, revision, or editing prior to publication.

In conversation with my son recently I commented that writing was a wonderful way of venting one's spleen. So you have been warned!

However I do follow advice from my training therapist whose remedy for anger against someone was to write a strong, abusive, letter using any kind of bad language that was appropriate, but to do it late at night, so getting it out of the system and onto paper. In the morning, she said, we can tear that up and write a polite, pointed, note instead, or just speak to them!

Watch this space!

Best wishes to all,

Fr. Ted