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Letters

Church of England

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 Contents - Apr 2006AD2000 April 2006 - Buy a copy now
Editorial: New cardinals: Benedict XVI signals his intentions - Michael Gilchrist
Conscience: Dissenters' appeal to Rome 'a real hoot' says Cardinal Pell - Michael Gilchrist
News: The Church Around the World
Books: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
EarthSong: Green Christianity or a new paganism? - Michael Gilchrist
Salesian Missions: Cardinal Pell visits East Timor - Michael Lynch SDB
Creation: Intelligent Design and the war against God - Stephen Hitchings
The Domestic Church: The Christian Family Movement: re-evangelising through families - Leslie Sammut
Has just punishment had its day? - Fr Matthew Kirby
1973 Decree: A Fourth Rite of Reconciliation for Queensland? - AD2000
Music and Culture: Benedict XVI, Mozart and the quest for beauty - Mark Freer
Letters: Religious education - Saskia Ebejer
Letters: Action needed - Kevin McBride
Letters: New Age - Yana Di Pietro and Magenta Ray
Letters: Translations - George Simpson
Letters: National suicide - Greg O'Regan
Letters: Anti-life politicians - Robert Bom
Letters: RU486 - Brian Harris
Letters: Courageous example - Arnold Jago
Letters: Inclusive language - Ottavio Kos
Letters: Overseas priests - Peter Gilet
Letters: Leadership needed - Tom King
Letters: Church of England - Jim Turley
Letters: Religious life - Barbara Chigwidden
Books: Swear To God: The Promise and Powers of the Sacraments, by Scott Hahn - Jacinta Cummins (reviewer)
Books: Mother Angelica, by Raymond Arroyo - Stephen Hitchings (reviewer)
Books: Fr Martin D'Arcy: Philosopher of Christian Love, by H.J.A. Sire - Michael E. Daniel
Events: Holy Week 2006: Classical Roman Rite in Melbourne
Books: Stimulating reading from AD Books
Reflection: The redeeming Cross: at the centre of Christian faith - Cardinal George Pell

I was greatly saddened to read the article "The Church of England: beyond satire?" by Fr Peter Mullen, not only because of its content, but as well, its style. I found this reminiscent of the acerbic wit of Dr Rumble MSC, the Catholic apologist and radio broadcaster. When Fr Rumble was once asked whether Anglicans had holy water, he snapped back, "No. Anglicans only have water".

It is very sad to see such a once- great Christian body experiencing the decline and confusion which presently besets it. However, satirising the details of its behaviour serves little purpose, except to demonstrate the troubled nature of the writer.

I still have much for which I thank Anglicanism. Its magnificent tradition of Church music is without parallel, and its profound spirituality little known, and only briefly accounted by such people as Louis Boyer in his History. This lack of awareness, parallelled by the demise of personal prayer and an abiding sense of being bound to Jesus as Lord and Master is, indeed, a large part of that Church's present problems.

The rise of the so-called "New Theology" in the 1960s, referred to by Mullen was essentially, I believe, an outcome of Nietzsche's condemnation of Christian love as the result of man's fear of God.

There is, of course, much cause for hope and trust. For instance, I have just finished reading the encyclical, Deus Caritus Est. It is a salutary contradiction of Nietzsche's rather barren and mischievous thesis.

When I left the Anglican Church some fourteen years ago, I did so alone, and with a very heavy heart. I believe that, in some ways, John Henry Newman, as well as Christ, was my guide. Cardinal Newman did not wish to scandalise his Anglican congregation at Littlemore, so when he finally decided to leave that Communion and join the Catholic Church, he did so without vituperation and without itemising its faults to those for whom he had pastoral care.

I completely support the concern of your journal for orthodoxy in faith and devotion in worship. But I do hope we do not have to rely upon satire to get our message heard. Like His Holiness, I believe that we must call all men to a deep love of our Lord Jesus Christ, enjoin ourselves and encourage others to a deeper spirituality, particularly through the mystery of the Mass, and teach the orthodox Catholic faith.

JIM TURLEY
Geilston Bay, Tas

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Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 3 (April 2006), p. 16

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