Letters

Not closing ranks (letter)

Alan Gill

Contents - Sep 2003 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The future of the Anglican Church - Peter Westmore New auxiliary bishops appointed to the Sydney Archdiocese - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Dissident US group establishing a foothold in Australian parishes - Mary-Ruth Monsour Catholic summer conferences in the United States: signs of hope - Richard Egan Culture: Second 'Carnivale Christi' Catholic arts festival scheduled for Melbourne - Michael Gilchrist Events: Hearts On Fire Vocations Congress for Melbourne Archdiocese - Joanne Grainger Understanding the Catholic Liturgy since Vatican II - Dom Alcuin Reid OSB Pope John Paul II calls for greater use of Latin - Denis Murphy Homosexual conduct: how Gospel teaching can be distorted - Bill Muehlenberg Letters: Not closing ranks (letter) - Alan Gill Letters: Hidden agenda (letter) - Dr Arthur Hartwig Letters: Liturgical choices (letter) - Marguerite Fennell Letters: New Mass (letter) - Philip Robinson Letters: Converts (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Selfhood (letter) - Robert Prinzen-Wood Letters: Prophetic words (letter) - Errol Duke Letters: Freedom to be born (letter) - George F. Simpson Abridged Papal encyclicals available - Fr M. Durham Letters: Correction - Chris Hilder Books: OLD THUNDER: A Life of Hilaire Belloc, by Joseph Pearce - Scott J. Bloch (reviewer) Books: Some Fell On Rock, by Fr John O'Neill - Fr Peter Joseph (reviewer) Books: The Practical Preacher: Handy Hints for hesitant homilists, by Paul Edwards SJ - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: Great books at the best prices! Reflection: A Christian response to bereavement: Jesus' ministry to the sick and dying - Fr Dennis Byrnes

Nigel Zimmerman's article "Orthodox Anglicans close ranks" (July AD2000) raises valid points about the common ground between traditional (as opposed to modern) Anglo-Catholics and evangelical Anglicans of the conservative Sydney persuasion.

Journalists and others have gone further, noting a commonality (particularly on moral issues) between the two Sydney Archbishops, Peter Jensen and George Pell - men who, a couple of decades ago, would have seemed most unlikely bedfellows.

However, Mr Zimmerman overlooks certain points that need to be said. For example, the Sydney diocese's objection to women priests is based almost entirely on a theory of "headship" - that women should not be in charge of men in the congregation. If a way could be found of ordaining women so that they ministered solely as chaplains or in some similar non-parish role, the Sydney leadership would have no objection at all.

As for the celebration of Eucharistic services, believing that a suitably qualified lay person, male or female, may perform this role, before the end of this year it is more than likely that the Sydney Diocese and its Archbishop will approve a measure for "lay presidency", thus setting Sydney at odds with virtually the entire international Anglican body.

ALAN GILL
Drummoyne, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 16 No 8 (September 2003), p. 15