BY Martin Dunlop | October 18 | 2 COMMENTS print
Anglican priest and parish to convert to Catholic Church
An Anglican bishop and a small parish in Kent are set to convert to Catholicisim under the new ordinariate offered by Pope Benedict XVI
Bishop John Broadhurst, of Fulham Diocese, and leader of the traditionalist group Forward in Faith, and St Peter’s Church in Folkestone have decided to convert because they object to moves in the Church of England to allow women bishops.
Bishop Broadhurst accused the Church of England’s governing body, the General Synod, of acting in a ‘fascist way’ by ‘marginalising those who have been opposed to women’s ordination.’
“I intend to resign as bishop of Fulham before the end of the year,” he said.
“I am not retiring, I am resigning,” he added. “I expect that I will enter the ordinariate when it is established.”
The parochial church council of St Peter’s, (PCC) which is affiliated with the Forward in Faith group, announced its decision to join the ordinariate last Saturday and said it is ‘anxious that this should be made as easy as possible.’
As a Catholic, I welcome Bishop John, who, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has decided to lead his flock into safe pastures. A time of change is always stressful; and I pray the good Lord to give them stength and courage.
Catholics are not alone in welcoming the Anglicans. The Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia (ROCOR) is now slowly establishing Western Parishes using a version of the pre-Reformation Sarum usage liturgy,the last Catholic rite in the Britsh Isles,used during the brief Marian Restoration.