Anglican Bishops in Secret Meetings with Rome

Western Rite Orthodox communing at the altar rail

There is late breaking news from the Sunday edition of Britain's Telegraph (via T-19) that an undisclosed number of conservative Anglican bishops have been holding secret meetings with high ranking officials in the Vatican. The object appears to be to create some sort of understanding in the event that the Church of England self destructs in its synod meeting. This is by no means a highly unlikely event given the topic on the front burner. The synod is debating a resolution that would authorize the consecration of female bishops and at the same time strip conservative Anglicans of the guarantees given fifteen years ago that conscientious objectors could request alternative episcopal oversight from an orthodox (small 'o') bishop.

Revelation of these discussions comes at a critical moment and may have been timed as a warning to the liberal majority that they risk a major schism if they push too hard. But its also worth noting that the threat of schism is not simply implied. At least 600 clergy have vowed to bolt (most probably swimming the Tiber) if women are consecrated as bishops without a so called safe harbor for conservative Anglicans. It has been widely reported that a number of bishops are similarly updating their resumes with at least one having already made the decision to go no matter the outcome of the synod.

Also worth keeping in mind is the ongoing saga of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) which petitioned Rome for full communion last year with the hope of being granted status as a uniate Anglican Rite somewhat analogous to the Ruthenian (Byzantine) Rite Catholics. If this were to happen it could create the framework for the absorption of a large scale exodus of High Church Anglo-Catholics and provide these spiritual refugees with a place to go.

Some might wonder why aren't any of these bishops talking to us? Of course I am Orthodox and would prefer them to embrace Orthodoxy. However I am obliged (with pain) to acknowledge that there are simply huge barriers to a mass conversion of Anglo-Catholics into the Orthodox faith. We can start with the question of whom to talk to? Britain suffers from the same jurisdictional squabbling (on a smaller scale) that we do here in the United States. Then there is the widespread controversy over the very idea of an Orthodox Western Rite. Huge numbers of Orthodox dismiss the concept of Western Rite Orthodoxy out of hand and by implication suggest that the only legitimate form of worship is the Byzantine rite. Thats all well and fine of course if we have zero interest in embracing a potentially huge defection on the part of Anglo-Catholics. For that matter we are pretty much writing off most Christians with a western cultural background.

The simple truth is that all these Anglicans are not going to become Byzantine rite. Thats just not a realistic expectation. They have their own history and spiritual traditions not all of which are incompatible with Orthodoxy. Indeed many aspects of Anglican ecclesiology would be much closer to that of Orthodoxy than Roman Catholicism with its monarchical form of government. Expecting them to all renounce their history and culture is not only unreasonable, it's frankly rather insulting. However, at present there is little enthusiasm for a viable Western Rite outside of the Antiochian Patriarchate. So we are basically saying to them abandon your heritage and become Byzantine, or go to Rome.

Given the circumstances I can not fault them for their choice. Although not Orthodox, Rome is a vast improvement over where they are now. I wish I could say that this is likely to light a fire under the various hierarchs out there and make them realize the damage being done by our disunity and ethnocentrism. But I am not that sanguine.