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BDisraeli
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 12th, 2007 |
| Location: | Salt Lake City, Utah USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
| First Name: | James | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Agnostic/Secular, LDS, Agnostic/Secular, Deism, Anglican, and Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 12:36 am |
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The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson, Bishop of the Rio Grande, will resign from his position and become a Roman Catholic, The Living Church has learned.
“The spring meeting of the House of Bishops, when the majority said that The Episcopal Church was fundamentally autonomous and local,” he said. “This is not the Catholic doctrine of the Church, and it will lead to many unfortunate consequences.”
“My conscience is deeply troubled,” he said in a statement prepared for the House of Bishops, “because I sense that the obligations of my ministry in The Episcopal Church may lead me to a place apart from scripture and tradition. I am concerned that if I do not listen to and act in accordance with conscience now, it will become harder and harder to hear God’s voice.”
 Click here to read the article. 
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2410 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 01:59 am |
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Some background information I have gleened from the internet: Steenson is an Episcopalian bishop; his jurisdiction is New Mexico and far west Texas. His area of scholarly expertise is the Early Church Fathers. This link gives his farewell letter to his flock.
David
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Esther
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Bronx, New York USA |
| Posts: | 157 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 03:26 pm |
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This link gives his farewell letter to his flock That was really interesting reading the responses to this letter. Although some of the arguments are the same, the mode of thought and attitude is very different from fundamentalists when looking at the RCC.
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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 05:31 pm |
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I read over half of the comments regarding Bishop Steenson's resignation. Overall, they are far kinder and more supportive than the comments regarding Francis Beckwith's reversion to the C.C. Some of the comments made toward Beckwith were downright vindictive and hateful.
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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heardclarke
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| Joined: | Mon Apr 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 219 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Episcopalian; confirmed RC Easter 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Sep 25th, 2007 12:57 am |
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I agree, Darlene, they are really trying to understand.
Most Anglicans cut their teeth on the idea that Rome had overstepped her boundaries in denying Henry VIII an anullment and excommunicating him. They joke about the sale of indulgences. They believe all the horror stories about the Spanish Inquisition and hold the Church responsible for promoting anti-Muslim crusades (and hindering world peace today!). They are convinced that papal infallibility and the Marian doctrines are classic examples of power "going to the Pope's head." This would mean that they are false doctrines and that therefore the RCC is guilty of false teaching.
Then someone like Bishop Steenson blows their minds when he actually comes out and espouses Roman Catholicism (because he has researched the above issues and knows the truth). The implication is that the Anglicans have got a lot of things very wrong, as he sees it, and that the "papists" were right all along.
They try very hard to reconcile their beliefs with "the modern world," and it's hard for them to accept that a "medieval" Church has anything new to teach them.
For what it's worth, I think Bishop Steenson's inviting PB KS to his diocese is a good move. He is basically handing the problem over to her. Let her deal with it--she certainly has contributed to the mess and ought to be held responsible. He is also showing those who choose to remain who they will be dealing with. They should not be allowed to labor under the illusion either that the progressives can be safely ignored or that they can somehow be persuaded to return to faithfulness. Yet he is doing this as respectfully as possible; for bitterness and hostility are not the fruits of the Spirit.
Besides, a true Anglican would rather die than be guilty of rudeness!
____________________
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
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Br_Carlo
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tyler, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 150 |
| First Name: | Br_Carlo (Vince Brach) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Episcopalian, CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Tue Sep 25th, 2007 09:01 am |
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God's peace. I am simply delighted to read of Bp. Steenson's conversion, and I pray that similar grace would be visited on the three Episcopal bishops closest to my heart: Keith L. Ackerman, Episcopal Bishop of Quincy and Bishop Protector of the Franciscan Order of the Divine Compassion (FODC, an Anglican religious order to which I once belonged); Leo J. Iker, Episcopal Bishop of Ft. Worth (my former Episcopal bishop); and Maurice Benitez, retired Episcopal Bishop of Texas (the one who "confirmed" me).
A point for CHN readers: although the pastoral provision exists, a bishop of the Episcopal Church who becomes Catholic and applies for the priesthood under this provision has no guarantee that he will receive it, much less become a Catholic bishop. For an Episcopal bishop to swim the Tiber is a BIG DEAL--he gives up a nice pension as well as his current income. But it is heartening that even as the Episcopal Church is disintegrating, God's grace is still actively calling the faithful to holiness. Praise God! Blessings, ~Br_Carlo~
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heardclarke
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| Joined: | Mon Apr 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 219 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Episcopalian; confirmed RC Easter 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Sep 25th, 2007 09:16 pm |
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Hear, Hear!
I also know Bishop Benitez, having sung in the choir at his installation as Bishop of TX in Houston in the 80's. He had been rector of St. John the Divine (my grandmother's parish.) And we all know of the legendary Bishop Iker here in TX.
It is certainly true that a Bishop gives up a very "secure" lifestyle and pension in leaving the ECUSA. Not to mention the time, talent, support and work it took for him to get elected to his position in the first place.
Some of our readers may not realize that Episcopal bishops are elected by their own future diocese. My cradle Catholic friends are always shocked when this fact is discovered about my former church. (Nowadays I find it shocking too!)
Lisa
____________________
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Sep 26th, 2007 01:32 am |
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I am looking forward to seeing Bishop Steenson on The Journey Home!
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Ken Follis
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| Joined: | Thu Oct 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 40 |
| First Name: | Ken | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Charismatic Episcopal Church; Roman Catholic Church (1999) |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 11:15 am |
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Kudos to the Bishop!
____________________
Jer. 6:16 "Stand, Look, Ask and Walk!"
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