The English Catholic Church

High Church Anglicans & Episcopalians - those who have retained a substantial bit of vestigiae ecclesia of their Catholic patrimony, as opposed to Low Church who are more evangelical - have long described themselves as the meeting point between Protestants & Catholics. Also, they often described themselves as the Catholic Church in England. That was Henry's premise, anyway.

However, Henry's scheme neglected one essential ingredient, which I discussed in yesterday's post: visible union with the See of Peter in the form of acknowledgment of the pope's Christ-instuted role as his Vicar on earth & submission to his will. Repeat: & submission to his will. So, it only takes a couple of logical steps until these ideas of meeting points & churches-in-location all fall apart. It all comes down to authority.

So.... as a card-carrying member of the American Friends of Westminster Cathedral (no, not the Abbey), I nearly fell off my bar stool when I read this. No, really - go there & read that!

I 've longed prayed for the re-conversion of England, & thought God had everything in hand, since Eastern European immigrants have pushed Sunday church attendance for Catholics beyond that of Anglicans.

This just goes to show how great is our God! The TAC is variously estimated to be between 400,000 & 500,000 members, & if this move comes to pass - please, God - then it will surely prompt the consciouses of many others who reseek unity with the Truth & the fullness of the Faith.

These photos are of the Catholic Cathedral in its glorious Byzantine style. The book Christ holds says: Ego sum ostium. Per me si quis introierit, salvabitur, or, I am the gate. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved. - John 10:9