together THE CATHOLIC VOICE IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND EASTER 2015 Taking the Plunge Hills of the North, Rejoice! Page 4 York Minster was packed for the consecration of Father Philip North as Bishop of Burnley. The well orchestrated service was presided over by the Archbishop of York who delegated the consecration to the Bishop of Chichester who was assisted the Bishops of Beverley and Pontefract. The consecration heralded a new start for our constituency as we seek to engage with the invitation to flourish in the Church of England. Clergy and laity from across the constituency gathered to pray for Father North and there cannot have been a Catholic Society that wasn’t represented in some way Easter and few will forget the wonderful sight of Bishop North’s fellow Guardians of Services the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in the Minster nor the singing of ‘Sing we of the Blessed Mother’. see pages 11 -15 All in all this was a wonderful day completed with Pontifical Benediction at the parish of All Saints’ North Street. As Bishop North himself commented, Monday 2nd of February was the day on which the Church of England truly showed there was a future for those who seek in good conscience to hold to the traditional teachings of the church. Continued on page 2 with Bishop Tony’s reflection. Also in this issue... .............................................. Chrism Masses Page 9 ........................................... The Glastonbury Pilgrimage Pages6-7 Devotional for Latest News Get out and Vote! Holy Week & Events page 3 page 10 page 16 2 Together EASTER 2015 visit our website: www.glastonburypilgrimage.co.uk THE CATHOLIC VOICE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND Together EASTER 2015 3 Mutual Flourishing Get out and Vote! Martyn Neale explains why we must take the General Synod elections seriously! Will you be voting in the election this year? No, not THAT one: the General Synod election. All elected seats in the Houses of Clergy and Laity are up for grabs and it’s vital that the Catholic group should be as generously represented as possible. This will only happen if those entitled to vote can be persuaded to vote for our candidates. If we hope that they might, we must be sure that we do too. Simples, as we’ve come to say. Most clergy have a vote as do lay members of deanery synods. It’s surprising how many electors don’t get round to voting. Perhaps they think they can’t change anything or that General Synod’s a waste of time. It may be that they don’t know much about any of the candidates. Some probably file the voting papers away to deal with another day but our broad church should be maintained could still I’m a member of a group charged with maximising never get round to it. Whatever the shortcomings of persuade Synod-members of integrity to vote for what support for catholic candidates, clergy and lay. We the past, we really can’t afford to let a single vote go was right and just, rather than that which was hope that in every single diocese there will be begging this year. It might be worth checking that popular. Without their courage we wouldn’t be here candidates for whom we can vote with confidence. your own parish has actually filled all its allocated lay to thank them. Those principles need be guarded To that end, there have been discreet meetings up places on your Deanery Synod. If not, now’s the time into the future. and down the country of key laity and clergy to put yourself forward and claim that place, along identifying local people who will co-ordinate support with the vote that goes with it. So where are we? We have a new Measure, crafted for both candidates and voters in this autumn’s to maintain the breadth of belief and practice in the election. Getting the right candidates is the first Like it or not, General Synod is the forum where the church. It includes checks and balances with a thing – gaining votes for them is the next. Advice to Church of England has its discussions and takes its straightforward appeal process to an Independent candidates and electors will come in due course. It decisions. Although much of its business is routine Reviewer in perceived instances of discriminatory will cover matters such as hustings, election and necessarily dull attracting little coverage in the practice. It may not give us everything we might addresses and the workings of the Single media and press, headlines can be hit when some have wanted but it promises to provide (on paper, at Transferable Vote system which is used. In the controversial subject comes to the fore. Recently, its least) sufficient for us to maintain our place. More meantime, be assured that every effort is being failure to pass the dreadful women bishops than that, it speaks of wanting those who cannot in made to secure the best result for this legislation in 2012 became one of the most widely conscience accept the ministry of women as priests crucial Synod election. Forward in Faith expresses its gratitude to the experience at the moment of ordination the full covered stories. Parliament weighed in too, with or bishops to flourish. Yes, flourish; not just limp Archbishop of York for making arrangements for communion with the ordaining bishops that all even the Prime Minister feeling compelled (and along until we give up. The last few years have been exhausting for so many The Chairman the Bishop of Burnley’s ordination which gave full other ordinands enjoy. qualified) to opine his views. The subject itself of us and the insults we’ve suffered have left their expression to the Guiding Principles enshrined in continued to receive great attention over the The challenge is thrown down to us as much as scars. How we feel for our Synod reps who have had the House of Bishops’ Declaration. We are grateful that the service in York Minster following months, though the subtleties of the debate anyone. We’re told we’re wanted and that there’s to speak and vote against so much for so long. was nevertheless characterized by a very high were lost. With remarkable and unexpected room for us. Do we believe that? Do we want to We’ve had a measure of success and tempting of Forward in The first Guiding Principle speaks of the respect degree of communion and fellowship, expressed fleetness of foot, business managers in the Synod stay? Do we want to flourish? If so, we need to be though it might be to take a break from what might and canonical obedience that lawful office- not least in the fact that all could receive were able to arrange negotiations between all parties represented at all levels of church governance, which be considered church politics, we can’t afford to be holders deserve. The Archbishop of York presided communion together. and achieve the swift passage of a simpler, fairer includes the General Synod. We must make the complacent. The Church, General Synod, the people in York Minister and the Bishop of Burnley took Measure at the end of 2014. effort to get our people elected so they can help the of England, need us and our Catholic contribution. Faith reflects liberal majority live up to the spirit as well as the The future is there for the grasping, if only we have the oath of due obedience to him. No one present The arrangements determined by the Archbishop could have been in any doubt as to the of York also contributed to ‘mutual flourishing’. We Let’s be clear: the 2012 legislation failed thanks not letter of the legislation that has been agreed. the courage and commitment. What a relief it Remember, most of those who voted in 2012 for our Archbishop’s metropolitical authority or the trust that no one imagines that the flourishing of only to the votes of committed traditional Catholics would be to speak and vote in favour of things in effective ejection from the church will no doubt respect in which he is held. traditional catholic ordinands could involve their and classical evangelicals. It was support from the years to come – and what a blessing we could on the themselves hope to be re-elected to the Synod. We being ordained by bishops whose sacramental others, who though they were generally in favour of continue to be to the Church as a whole. will need to be watchful in case their 2014 The fourth and fifth Guiding Principles embody ministry they cannot receive. If all the male women as bishops but could not countenance conversion to inclusivity is short-lived. commitments to enabling those who, for bishops present had participated in the laying on proposals which would have made it well-nigh The General Synod takes itself very consecration theological reasons, are unable to receive the of hands, the Bishop of Stockport (whose gracious impossible for us to remain in the church, that tipped seriously. So must we. ministry of women bishops or priests to flourish, presence we acknowledge with gratitude) would the balance. It was a welcome sign that cogent and to making sacramental and pastoral provision therefore have been alone in having to refrain arguments that promises once given should be kept, for us ‘in a way that maintains the highest from doing so. It would be difficult to see that as that it was ridiculous to be asked to vote for an of the Bishop unseen Code of Practice and that the inclusivity of The Catholic Group and Forward possible degree of communion and contributes to an expression of ‘mutual flourishing’.