Anglicans given the altar of St John Lateran for their thingie. Hijinxs ensues.
The other day a wretchedly scandalous thing took place in the Lateran Basilica. A group of English Anglicans had their liturgy, like a Mass but of course invalid because they don’t have valid orders, at an altar in the apse of Rome’s cathedral, St. John Lateran. They were led by an Anglican “bishop” who is a highly elevated Mason, divorced and then civilly remarried.
While it seems that this is the perfect scenario for some of the things suggested in the synodal (“walking together”) process over the last 10 years, it seems that their use of the Lateran was just simple matter of screwed up comms.
The Lateran released this:
Rome, 20 April 2023
STATEMENT
The Lateran Chapter, in the person of His Excellency Bishop Guerino Di Tora, Chapter Vicar, expresses deep regret for what happened last Tuesday, 18 April, inside the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. In fact, a group of about 50 clergymen, accompanied by their bishop, all belonging to the Anglican communion, celebrated on the high altar of Rome’s cathedral, in contravention of canonical norms. Monsignor Di Tora also explained that the unfortunate episode was caused by a breakdown in communication,
His Excellency, Bishop Guerino Di Tora Vicar of the Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica
In sum:
“What we have here is a failure to communicate!”
One does not want to ascribe to malice what can be explained by stupidity. So, there is a probability that the no-doubt ultra-competent folks at the Lateran had no idea that these were not, in fact, just regular Catholic Brits in Rome for a Thing. Italians get a little star-struck by Brits for some reason I can’t fathom. “You lika da altare big? We givea you da altare!”
Of course had some group wanting to use the ROMAN RITE in the Basilica had come along they might not have been met with such a cordial welcome.
I can’t tell from the photos of the event if there were female “priestesses” or “deaconettes” among the Anglicans. That might have been a clue to the certainly ultra-observant folks at the Lateran. Or maybe not, given how things are going in that ecclesial community… roles tend to merge and verge, etc., and there are old women of both sexes even in the Catholic Church. Particularly. Widespread toxic masculinity is not really an Anglican thing right now, I believe.
Benedict XVI, the Pope of Christian Unity, didn’t have this sort of thing in mind when he set up the Ordinariates through Anglicanorum coetibus.
I suppose the German Lutherans will now show up and they will be taken for members of the ongoing SynodalWeg (“zusammen gehen”) and they will be allowed to use the Lateran’s central, papal altar. Note of sincere regrets to follow.
Anglican Jonathan Baker Giving "Mass" In St. John Lateran. Photo: Life Site News
Anglicans Violate Catholic Law and Celebrate “Mass” in the Main Altar of the Pope’s Cathedral
Another Christian confession that is not in communion with the Pope will also use the Cathedral of Saint John Lateran next May when the Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II celebrates his “mass” there.
(ZENIT News / Rome, 04.20.2023).- On Tuesday, April 18, a group of 30 Anglican clergymen (the Christian Confession separated from Rome after the refusal of the Pope to the declaration of nullity [of the marriage] between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon), held an Anglican “Mass” in the main altar of the Cathedral of Rome, the Holy Father’s See, who is Pope, in fact, because he is Bishop of Rome.
The celebrant “Bishop” was Johnathan Baker, Anglican pastor of Fulham since 2013. A source consulted by ZENIT confirmed that the Anglican clergy and this “Bishop” are in Rome on a spiritual retreat. The group is staying in the Venerable English College, a Catholic Seminary for English-speaking students from the United Kingdom.
According to a 2020 rule of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity “other Christian communities can be offered the use of a church” if the diocesan Bishop discerns “that it will not cause scandal or confusion to the faithful.” However, the same rule points out that if it entails the Cathedral, a particular discernment is in order.
For its part, the Ecumenical Board of Directors allows a place of worship to other communities when they lack such a place. However, Anglicans have their own place of worship in Rome.
Moreover, the person of Bishop Baker elicits perplexity due to the fact that he was a self-confessed Freemason (he himself revealed it in 2011: “I have been an active member for many years and continue being so”). He is also divorced and remarried and has become a “Bishop.”
On the Roman afternoon of Thursday, April 20, the Chapter of Saint John Lateran Cathedral issued a press release stating:
“The Lateran Chapter, in the person of His Excellency Monsignor Guerino Di Tora, the Chapterhouse Vicar, expressed his profound regret for what occurred last Tuesday, April 18, in the interior of the Basilica of Saint John in Rome. In fact, a group of some 50 presbyters, accompanied by their Bishop, all belonging to the Anglican Communion, celebrated in the main altar of Rome’s Cathedral, contravening the canonical rules. Monsignor Di Tora also explained that the lamentable episode was due to a defect in communication.”
According to I-MEDIA, another Christian Confession, which is not in communion with the Pope, will also use Saint John Lateran Cathedral next May when Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II will celebrate his “Mass” there.
The notion that God concerns himself with such trivial nonsense is beyond belief. Who DO these pharasaical clowns think they are?
ReplyDelete"Who DO these pharasaical clowns think they are?"
ReplyDeleteThat's no way to talk about the Anglicans.
What a shaft of wit suffuses this terriblle blog.
ReplyDelete