Per Christum

I recently posted a response to some documents based on a class I was taking. However, I realized that it would be best if I didn’t mix my classwork with blogwork, not at least until after I have digested the whole course.

Dr. Robert Webber passed away from pancreatic cancer on Saturday. He will be missed. For those unfamiliar with Webber, he wrote many books encouraging evangelicals to explore liturgy, sacraments, and the Church Fathers. He became Episcopalian in the 1970s or 80s (I can’t recall the exact date) and later wrote a book about it called “Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail.” He was also famous for his “Ancient-Future” series, which looked at modern ideas using the ancient writers. When my brother and I started the Ancient and Future Catholics website, we were reading Webber, and he no doubt influenced our choice of name. I likely would not be Catholic today if it weren’t for Webber. I am sad to see him depart this world.

See this article on Titus One Nine for more information about Webber and his recent passing.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace

Gay Marriage Evil, Abortion Terrorism: Vatican

I don’t think the media “gets” religion, which makes me wonder how many other issues reporters mess up. Apparently when a Catholic leader actually says something, well, Catholic, it is newsworthy. I have a feeling many in the media are waiting for the Catholic Church to give up all that “old stuff.”

Thanks to David B. for his previous kind remarks. I thought that under the circumstances, I ought to “cross-post”. Blessings!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on this blog. Much of my time has been spent moderating several sections of the Ancient-Future Catholic forum, owned by fellow blogger David Bennett. Some months ago, we decided mutually that the time had come to shut down discussions of the CEC on that forum, and overall, I believe that this has been a wise move. Some CEC discussion has continued on the On Our Way Home forum, but at a much slower, and less frenetic pace than before.

Now that the dust has cleared somewhat, we can perhaps have a better picture as to what has actually happened, and what is still going on.

Total Episcopal Departures from the CEC since May 2006:

Bishop Philip Zampino, formerly Bishop of the Mid-Atlantic Diocese and Abbot General; now Prelate of the Communion of Corpus Christi.

Bishop Fred Fick, formerly Bishop of the Great Lakes Diocese; now a bishop in the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Bishop Don Miles, formerly assistant Bishop of the Great Lakes Diocese; now a bishop in the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Bishop Rich Lipka, formerly Bishop of Delmarva Diocese; now the President of the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Bishop Phil Weeks, formerly Missionary Bishop for the CEC; now a bishop in the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Bishop Ken Myers, formerly Bishop of the South-Central Diocese; now Vice-President of the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Bishop Rick Painter, formerly Bishop in Arizona; now the Secretary-Treasurer of the Communion of Christ the Redeemer.

Archbishop Randy Sly, formerly Archbishop of the Eastern Province; now a layman in the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition, there have been dozens, if not hundreds of priests and deacons who have left for other bodies, dozens of churches who have left for other bodies, and thousands of laity which have left for other bodies.

The “Exodus” continues, but has been slowed to a trickle. I do expect more losses, but not nearly at the rate we’ve seen over the last 9 months or so.

Is, then, my earlier post on the demise of the CEC incorrect? To paraphrase Mark Twain: “Are the rumors of the death of the CEC greatly exaggerated?”

No, I don’t think so. It may still be possible for the CEC to survive as a meaningful entity — but I would not bet the rent on it.

What has happened positively:

There have been some positives.

1) The CEC is finally being honest about its own numbers here in the United States. For many years, those in the CEC (including those in ministry) were treated to enormous exaggerations as to churches and parishoners. In the United States, the CEC is now admitting to about 4,000 souls.

2) The CEC is finally taking a stand on doctrinal issues (like the Canon of Scripture). Lack of clarity on fundamental points of doctrine has always been a shortcoming of the denomination. It appears that this is beginning to change.

3) The CEC is finally taking a stand on a unified liturgy. This has also been a shortcoming, as not only styles of worship would vary around the country, but so also would fundamental and theological aspects of the liturgy. It is difficult to have a unified doctrine if there is no uniform liturgical worship. The CEC is finally coming to grips with this.

4) The CEC seems to be making at least a minimal attempt to regularize its reporting, both with regard to parish records and with regard to financial accountability. This may be “too little, too late” — but, nevertheless a start is being made.

HOWEVER — the NEGATIVES certainly outweigh the positives:

1) Honesty about numbers is a good thing. The numbers themselves look very bad — and when analyzed, look much worse. 4,000 persons — 90 churches. That adds up to about 45 persons per church. Not very viable. But there’s more. 6 of those congregations are cathedral parishes, which tend to be much larger than the typical CEC congregation. If we assume an average membership of 150 for those six congregations (which is conservative indeed) we’re left with about 3,100 persons in 84 parishes/missions. That adds up to about to about 37 members per congregation. But it gets worse than that. Among those 4,000 people, are between 400 and 450 clergy! For 90 churches! Most members of the CEC clergy have families, and many of those families are quite large. Just assuming an average of 4.5 members per clergy family (which again is conservative indeed) and we see between 1,800 and 2,000 members of CEC churches who are either clergy, or families of clergy. That number approaches 50%. This is not viable denominational growth!

2) Taking a stand on doctrine and on liturgy is also a good thing. However, in the case of the CEC, the stand taken is essentially “We have decided that we are a Protestant denomination”. If that is truly what they want to be, that’s fine and dandy. But that is not the song which was being sung EVEN ONE YEAR AGO, much less from the beginning of the denomination. Yet the current leadership is pretending that this is not the case. One immediately thinks of the “doublespeak” talked about in 1984. Those of us who remember how it was at the beginning cannot be fooled.

3) The beginnings of accountability are not enough. The current leadership of the CEC has still not “come clean” about the events of the past year (and honestly, much further back than that!) Clergy and laity who still ask questions are being insulted by bishops. The cries of the literally thousands who have asked for information, and yes, for justice, have been mocked and ridiculed. Attacks have been made against forums and blogs (including this one) yet certain leaders have no hesitancy in printing their own views and opinions. Lies have been told, and continue to be told. Reputations have been tarnished, and continue to be tarnished. Relationships have been broken, and continue to be broken.

In other words, in spite of the loss of 8 bishops, dozens to hundreds of clergy, and (depending on which set of figures you read) up to 75% percent of the laity in the United States, a certain cadre within the remaining leadership is still continuing “business as usual”.

I pray for those left in the CEC. I pray for healing and for reconciliation. But I also pray that “the truth will out”.

Many people interested in the Charismatic Episcopal Church visit, or have visited, this blog. While the recent crisis has largely died down (for the sake of those involved, a good thing), fellow blogger David Zampino offers some thoughts summarizing what has happened and what he thinks the future holds for the CEC: Further Thoughts on the CEC.

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed a ban on partial-birth abortion to stand. This is good news for those promoting a culture of life in the United States. So how have potential presidents reacted? Here are the reactions as posted on the Drudge Report, showing that not one major Democratic hopeful thought banning this late, cruel, and rare procedure was a good idea:

HILLARY: ‘Erosion of our constitutional rights’…
GIULIANI: ‘I agree with it’…
OBAMA: ‘I strongly disagree’…
ROMNEY: ‘A step forward’…
MCCAIN: I’m very happy…
EDWARDS: ‘I could not disagree more strongly’…

The Finger of God

I’m sure that virtually all readers are still reeling at the horrific events which took place yesterday at Virginia Tech. Such mindless evil is dreadfully hard to contemplate. There are no easy answers to difficult questions.

And yet . . .

And yet . . .

Like we have seen so often before, during times of immense tragedy; amid all the suffering and pain; amid all the questions and the anger — there are also miracles. There are those who “were supposed to be somewhere, but weren’t” — and later realize that they have been spared. There are those who, in moments of unspeakable horror, act with incredible courage. There are those who “rise to the occasion”, when the need is greatest.

We see the Finger of God.

I see the Finger of God in the heroic sacrifice of a professor, who literally blockaded a classroom door with his body — so that his students could escape. Greater love hath no man.

I see the Finger of God in the presence of an Eagle Scout in one classroom, who was able to render emergency first-aid to those around him — and was never touched by a bullet.

I see the Finger of God on the life of a young man who decided to have a quick coffee with his girlfriend, rather than rush off. They are both alive today.

I see the Finger of God on the life of a young woman who, although always early, was, for some reason running late.

I see the Finger of God in the very fact that these tragedies are so rare; that this sort of wanton evil remains, for the most part, checked.

It was St. Thomas Aquinas who pointed out that if God wanted to destroy the Universe — He would not have to do anything — He would have to STOP doing something. It is His Finger on the pulse of the Universe which keeps everything going.

I grieve with all those who have lost friends and loved ones. I grieve for the loss of life — and for the loss of innocence. And I am filled with wonder and great gratitude at the little miracles — those actions by the Finger of God — which kept this terrible, terrible tragedy from being infinitely worse.

May the souls of the victims — and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

As many of you likely know, a student by the name of Seung Cho, recently murdered at least 32 students at Virginia Tech’s campus, and then took his own life. This is a sad affair, and much prayer is in order.

Recently, the Smoking Gun posted a one act play by Cho, called “Richard McBeef,” which perhaps gives us insight into the nature of this loner. The play is almost painful to read, and I think Cho should have found another major. However, it does reveal a certain madness on the part of Cho, although it is possible some took it to be “artistic.” As I started to read on, I almost wondered if Cho himself had been abused, or deeply hurt, as a young man. Either way, there is great pain inside of him. I wonder how many other young men are also ticking time bombs, and how do we deal with it?

Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.

Lo, the fair beauty of the earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns.

Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.

Rise from the grave now, O Lord,
The author of life and creation.
Treading the pathway of death,
New life You give to us all.

“Hail Thee Festival Day”:
words by Venantius Fortunatus (530-609)

These are a few photos I took last year, at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. I took the photo in the previous entry at the same location. I think these are appropriate for Holy Saturday, as we meditate on the death of Jesus, and in a sense, our own eventual deaths.

Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all”. Christ answered him: “And with your spirit”. He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light”.

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

From the Sermon of an anonymous Eastern Church Father. Traditionally read during the Liturgy of the Hours on Holy Saturday in the Western Church. Image taken by David Bennett.

Today is Good Friday, when we commemorate the crucifixion and death of the Lord. Through fasting, penance, venerating the cross, reading from John’s gospel, and the sparseness of worship, we “bring present” to us the final hours of Jesus’ life. Penance and fasting are not too popular these days, even in some churches, but through these practices we being to understand the pain and suffering of our Lord, as we refine our souls.

Sadly, I found out from Antonia’s World
That Dr.John Billings died….
Dr John Billings, world-renowned pioneer of natural fertility regulation, died last night aged 89 after a short illness.

John James Billings AM, KCSG, MD, FRCP, FRACP, was born in Melbourne on 5 March 1918 and educated at Xavier College and the University of Melbourne. Married to Dr Evelyn L Billings, nee Thomas in 1943, John saw service as an army doctor with the AIF during WWII in PNG. more here

I chose to study the Billings method for NFP about 6 months before I got married,(and use it now that I am married) after a friend loaned me her copy of “The Billings Method” book by Dr.Evelyn Billings. I had originally been studying NFP by Couple to Couple league, but since I was living in Australia at the time, it was easier to study something that most other couples I knew used. The Billings method is a form of Natural family planning that teaches a woman to interpret signs of fertility, and can be used to avoid or achieve pregnancy, using no drugs, devices or side effects.
Personally, I think it’s a great way for a woman to know how her body works and all the signs of change. It is scientifically proven too, no matter what stories are out there, if you use it properly it is effective.

So Dr.John Billings may have passed away, but has left women with a wonderful way, which allows us to manage our fertility without use of drugs and unnatural means.

Above is a picture of Dr.John Billings, meeting with John Paul II
The Billings Method

In the West, yesterday (Palm Sunday) began Holy Week. Holy Week is the final week of Lent leading up to Easter, and recalls the final events of the life of Jesus, including his death on a cross. Holy Week is a busy time for most Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Lutherans, and others.

I wish everyone a blessed and meaningful Holy Week. May we truly experience in symbol the crucifixion and death of Christ as we prepare for the Easter season, when we celebrate his resurrection and victory over death.