Ordinariate head ‘excluded from Reformation events’ Mgr Keith Netwon (CNS) Mgr Keith Newton was reportedly not invited to ecumenical events commemorating the Reformation The head of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham was snubbed from last week’s ecumenical commemorations of the Reformation, a leading Ordinariate priest has said. In a letter to the Catholic Herald, Fr Ed Tomlinson asks why Mgr Keith Newton, who serves as ordinary of the group for former Anglicans, was not invited to be “part of the numerous ‘reformation celebrations’ taking part in the ecumenical landscape this week”. Fr Tomlinson also wants to know why Mgr Newton had not been asked “to join the ARCIC [Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission] conversations despite his obvious importance as a former bishop of the Church of England now leading a body, the ordinariate, whose entire purpose is to enable Anglicans to become Catholic while retaining a distinctly English spirituality/patrimony”. In the six years since the creation of the ordinariate, Fr Tomlinson says, “we have been routinely undermined by those in authority over us. Not a single church has been gifted to the ordinariate despite several closing each month. Why are so many of our clergy used to plug diocesan gaps instead of being enabled to flourish within the vision to which we were called?” Click here for the rest of the article: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/11/07/ordinariate-head-excluded-from-reformation-events/
Most people I have know with any real feeling for the Ordinariate have had an opinion of the Reformation such that it would have been something that would neither celebrate nor condone. For them it would be a bit like whinging about not getting an invitation to a party you didn't want to go so save you the problem of declining. On the other hand as we have said in other threads the Ordinariate is a strange fruit, not really accepted as truly Anglican and not really accepted as truly Catholic, but rather occupying some of the space between the stools. I think it is a good reminder to us that we should try to make sure that we are genuine and inclusive.
The word "mercy " is sometimes used as a code word for liberalism. There's nothing merciful in not admonishing someone for leading a sinful life. Our Christian duty is to confront the sinner with his actions