AskThePriest.org

Father Matthew Presents - The Shields of the Apostles

2010-01-29T12:40:32-06:00

Every apostles has their own shield symbol. Which is which? This video is an introduction to the meaning of the shields of the apostles presented by an Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz and his friend, Jehosephat. This video also discusses the needlepoint kneelers and their use in worship at Christ's Church in Rye, New York. This is part of the "Father Matthew Presents" series of videos, presenting the treasures of Christianity one video at a time. www.fathermatthewpresents.com

A trustworthy avenue for Haitian relief is "Episcopal Relief and Development" www.er-d.org

Father Matthew is a priest at Christ's Church in Rye, New York. www.ccrye.org

To support this ministry, the new DVD "Father Matthew Presents: Volume Two" is available for purchase here:
https://www.createspace.com/275556

New Podcast Item - Rebuilding A Cathedral of Compassion

2010-01-29T11:55:35-06:00

New Podcast Item

A sermon by the Rev. David Simmons. The Episcopal Church of today is not the church of power and influence it was a generation ago. This is a natural consequence of the Church beginning to see the Gospel as something that requires us to take positions on issues of human rights. We are still in the process of rebuilding who we are. (And yes, I am aware that I get the date of MLK's visit to the National Cathedral wrong - I'm preaching without notes.)

The podcast item can be found here.

The podcasting feed can be found on the sidebar or at: http://podcast.askthepriest.org and is listed in the iTunes, Odeo and podcast.net directories.

More information & podcasting software can be found at http://www.ipodder.org

2010-01-29T10:00:05-06:00

Donate now to Episcopal Relief and Development's Haiti fund.

2010-01-23T21:35:41-06:00

Haitian Church Steps In During Wait for Aid 1/20/2010

In earthquake-stricken Haiti, an Episcopal bishop is providing relief to as many survivors as he can while they wait for the arrival of official aid. Jean Zache Duracin speaks with WSJ's Charles Forelle on how he's trying to help.

Father Matthew - Haiti, Pat Robertson, and the Devil

2010-01-22T12:12:26-06:00

Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, tries to counter the damage done by the rhetoric of Pat Robertson in the wake of the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, insisting that demonization is not a Christian practice. "Father Matthew Presents" is a regular video series that presents the treasures of Christianity one video at a time. www.fathermatthewpresents.com

A trustworthy avenue for Haitian relief is "Episcopal Relief and Development" www.er-d.org

Father Matthew is a priest at Christ's Church in Rye, New York.

Catching Up with Father Matthew

2010-01-21T21:09:04-06:00

Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, provides a meditation on how to become a Saint, in light of All Saints Day and in the light of one of the Tiffany windows at Christ's Church. "Father Matthew Presents" is a regular web series based out of Christ's Church, Rye, NY (www.ccrye.org) which presents the treasures of Christianity one video at a time.

Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, provides a presentation on the art of stained glass in the light of one of the windows at his church. "Father Matthew Presents" is a regular web series based out of Christ's Church, Rye, NY (www.ccrye.org) which presents the treasures of Christianity one video at a time.

Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, provides a presentation on the art of icons using the work of Robert Lentz. He also discusses the martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity. "Father Matthew Presents" is a regular web series based out of Christ's Church, Rye, NY (www.ccrye.org) which presents the treasures of Christianity one video at a time.

The official website is found here: www.fathermatthewpresents.com

The Episcopal Church's Response to the Haitian Disaster

2010-01-15T10:14:40-06:00

FrSimmons

Where is God in the Haitian Earthquake?

2010-01-15T09:38:23-06:00

A video by contributing author Frank Logue in response to Pat Robertson's heretical comments about the relationship between sin and the Haitian earthquake.

New Look and Editor/Designer

2010-01-11T21:28:50-06:00

We have a new priest on board! The Rev. Canon Amy Real Coultas is Canon Missioner for College & Young Adults at Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, KY. She is also an accomplished artist and designer. In bringing her on board, I gave her free reign for the design of the web site, the results of which you can see. She will also be helping with writing and editing so we can get this blog moving once again. Welcome, Amy+!

David+

Roman Revisions Revealed

2009-11-09T10:47:05-06:00

This morning, the Vatican Released the text of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, which provides for disaffected Anglicans entering into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

The document appears to clear up some questions and leave a few loose ends to be answered. For my commentary on who, where and why this was issued, see my post here. Let's look at some of the questions and how they appear to be answered. A caveat - I'm no expert on Roman canon law, so there could be some nuances I am not catching.

1. Whose authority will these churches be under?
This is a little more Vatican-centered than I had initially understood. It appears that while the national conferences of bishops is consulted, that the authority to establish them lies with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The ordinary (bishop) is chosen by the Pope and answers directly to him. Therefore, the national conferences appear to have very little to do with the regular governance of the ordinariate. Therefore, this looks a little more like Opus Dei than military chaplaincies. I can't imagine this will be very popular with sitting diocesan bishops.

2. Can their priests be married?
The ordinary is to ordain only celibate men to the priesthood. ~~I don't know the references to other documents, but I assume they affirm that bishops must be celibate as well.~~ Married Anglican ministers can be accepted as candidates to Holy Orders on a case-by-case basis. So no, this church within a church ~~will not~~ would not appear to have the ability to raise up and ordain married seminarians, although the Complimentary Norms are a little unclear.

Upon reading the Complimentary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution, it appears that married Anglican bishops are to be re-ordained as priests. They can then be appointed as the ordinary, although not ordained as a bishop. The quasi-bishop then has jurisdictional authority and is seated as a retired bishop in the college of bishops, but does not have the sacramental authority of a bishop (i.e. to ordain).

3. Will Anglican Priests have to be re-ordained?
Yes. This has absolutely no effect on Apostolicae Curae.

4. Can churches in the Ordinariate use the Book of Common Prayer?
Still unclear. The constitution says that

"the Ordinariate has the faculty to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, the Liturgy of the Hours and other liturgical celebrations according to the liturgical books proper to the Anglican tradition, which have been approved by the Holy See, so as to maintain the liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, as a precious gift nourishing the faith of the members of the Ordinariate and as a treasure to be shared."

"Which have been approved by the Holy See" is the operative phrase here. In the history of Anglican-Use parishes in America, this has meant the Book of Divine Worship, which has elements of the 1928 and 1979 BCP with altered eucharistic language to reflect RC Dogma. Whether the pope will authorize a BCP wholesale without revision has yet to be seen, but seems unlikely.

5. Will members of the Ordinariate have to accept the doctrines of Papal Infallibility and the Immaculate Conception?
Yes. "The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the authoritative expression of the Catholic faith professed by members of the Ordinariate."

From what I can tell, the only difference between this and the Anglican-Use provisions that have been in effect in America since 1980 is at the level of the diocese and bishop. Otherwise, they are just expanding this provision world-wide.

So those who go to Rome will have to be re-ordained, submit to absolute papal authority, accept all Roman Dogma (even the novel ones of the last 200 years), cannot raise up married men to the priesthood, and will most likely have to use a modified version of the Book of Common Prayer. One has to ask the question, What are the "Treasures of the Anglican Tradition" that the Pope seeks to retain within these ordinariates? Evensong? Is that it?

David+

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