Anglican Catholics sitting on a wall?

Currently it's all a bit of a heady atmosphere for Anglican Catholics and it's not just a fine incense smell they're in. Some may accuse us of sitting on a wall like Humpty Dumpty making words mean what we want them to mean. Others may think the wall is really a fence. Even more may think it really is time to jump down on one side or the other.

I'd rather like to think we can all get along with those three pillars - Faith, Hope and Charity. I read Damian Thompson's blog and I also read some of the comments. Many are from people who have lost sight of all three pillars it seems. Damian is plumping for the Ordinariate because he wants us in the Roman fold to show errant priests "how it's really done!". A good old Anglican Mass with all the trimmings and one that RCs can go to. WOW! But he should be more charitable to those who are still thinking or want something slightly different. All Anglican Catholics want to profess the catholic faith. The trouble is that our present divisions can lead to acrimony and hurtful words. Charity is one pillar we should all being reflecting on.

Currently, if one wants to be an Anglican Catholic, there are a few ways to be one.

A. Be in the Anglican Use Rite - Not many and only in America - In communion with Rome.
B. Be in the Anglican Catholic Church - More of them; currently reject the Ordinariate - Not in communion with Rome or Canterbury.
C. Be in the Traditional Anglican Communion - Most now wanting the Ordinariate but not all - Currently not in communion with Rome or Canterbury.
D. Be in an Ordinariate - Some will when they are set up - In communion with Rome.
E. Remain in the Church of England within a structure such as The Mission Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda, accepting impaired communion and may or may not join one of the other options in future.
F. Accept doctrinal changes within Anglicanism and be in a grouping like Affirming Catholicism.

The last one is probably not acceptable to the vast majority of Anglican Catholics. The one thing the present pope has done is to accept and honour the concept of Anglican Catholic patrimony. Sadly we are disunited but our fears and foibles should be measured with a degree of charity. The Archbishop of York said of the last synod meeting that it lack Christian charity. Very sad, but there are those that want to promote the battering ram technique of persuasion over anything else.

I think the formation of The Mission Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda is more of a help than a hindrance. People should not feel they are being bounced into the Ordinariate or being bounced anywhere. Discernment is what it is all about - and prayerful thought, too!