Canadian Church's Decision on Ordination Protested
Diocesan Press Service. July 21, 1975 [75253]
PELHAM MANOR, N.Y. -- In view of the action of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, on June 18, 1975, implementing the means to permit the ordination of women to priesthood in that church, the following statement has been issued by the Rev. Canon Charles H. Osborn, Executive Director of the American Church Union, a national body of "high" or Catholic-minded Episcopal bishops, clergy and lay people.
"The decision of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada affirming it is 'appropriate to ordain' women to the priesthood according to the normal procedures of the jurisdiction and ' in connection with the House of Bishops ' (Episcopate is apparently excluded) is a tragic mistake and, in my view, a dark day for those who would be loyal to the Catholic Faith. It is the more tragic because of the necessity to adopt a 'conscience' resolution in order to protect from wrath, vengeance, and purging from the church those who in conscience cannot accept such a decision or accede to it. Shades of the Inquisition!
I am advised that one bishop voted against the resolution. This, to me, is evidence that such a resolution was necessary. It also brings into focus the disunity created by the basic decision to ordain women.
The Anglican Church of Canada as a whole can no longer be considered a church which maintains the historic Faith and Order of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Like the Diocese of Hong Kong, she has placed herself in schism with the members of the Anglican Communion.
However, it is highly doubtful that any of the August bodies of that world-wide fellowship will have either the integrity or the courage to proclaim this schism. Discipline and 'making a stand' are both unpopular with humanists. And it seems the Anglican Communion is opting for humanism -- reducing Jesus Christ from the Incarnation of the Eternal, Omniscient, Omnipresent God to a mere culturally conditioned human being with special, albeit limited, insight about God and Creation.
The assumption that the Anglican Church of Canada believes it can, on its own, and independently of Catholic Christendom, make such a decision while continuing to claim Catholicity is preposterous. It is odious to those who view the Church as more than a man-made organization. It is indeed the selling of one's birthright for a mess of pottage.
Since the Anglican Church of Canada, as well as the Episcopal Church, did not establish its ministry, as did the churches of the Continental Reformation, by what stretch of the imagination can they usurp the right to alter that ministry and claim it to be the "Historic Ministry of Bishops, Priests and Deacons as this Church hath received the same." (Emphasis ours.)
The door is now wide open for the liberal humanists of the Episcopal Church to run amok with irrational emotion and pipe the tune which will undoubtedly sway many into the fallacious notion that we too have Catholic autonomy. The die is cast. Let no one mistake this as not being a fight to the death -- a fight triggered and perpetuated by the proponents of innovation and reductionism.
How much longer will the loyal, devout, apprehensive, but silent, Catholics remain silent and stand by while the nails are being driven further and further?"