Although Traditional Anglicans represent a relatively small group, there are many other conservative-minded Anglicans who are paying close attention and considering the jump to the Catholic Church.
This will have wide-spread ramifications for the Anglican Communion. As more and more orthodox Anglicans leave for the Catholic Church, the remainder of the Anglican Church will be increasing composed of liberal-leaning Christians, drifting further and further from the essence of Christianity. These liberals will seek to increase their strangle-hold on Anglicanism by pushing for more liberal morality
We saw a first demonstration last week, as Ottawa Anglican Bishop, John Chapman, announced that a church in his diocese will be allowed to "bless" same-sex unions for the first time. His announcement came just two days after the Vatican's announcement. The bishops said: "This will be Ottawa's offering to the ongoing discernment that is happening throughout the Anglican Church of Canada." It seemed like a direct reaction to the announcement from Rome in order to appease the liberal wing in his church.
Here's a quote from the newspaper that caught my attention:
Bishop Chapman said liberal Anglicans in the diocese will likely believe the blessing protocol doesn't go far enough, while conservative-minded parishioners might think it goes too far. Chapman believes it's a healthy balance.
Strange analysis coming from a bishop. He's looking for a "healthy balance" between two factions within the Anglican Church. What ever happened to standing for the Truth? Why not follow God's will instead of finding an arbitrary compromise between subjective opinions? Is that what Anglicanism in Canada has become? I'm afraid so.
The more orthodox Anglicans in Africa, which make up the bulk of the Anglican Communion, are within a hair of bolting. To them, the idea of returning to the Catholic Church will become increasingly appealing. The Anglicans in the West, which are but a small fraction of the total Anglican Church, have generally become so liberal as to be beyond recognition. They support same-sex marriage, abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexual lifestyles, women priests, etc. Their low birth rates will almost guarantee that they will disappear within a hundred years or so.
By this time next century, the Anglican Church as we know it will probably have vanished. That's what happens when you stray from the Truth. Recall the wise words of Gamaliel in the Acts of the Apostles:
"So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’ (Acts 5: 38-39)
The Anglican Church in the West is failing because it has strayed too far.
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