Whose authority?Dear editor, In your May edition we hear the narrative of Bishop Michael Ingham
The Right Reverend Michael Ingham (born 1949 in Yorkshire) is a bishop and theologian. , who strongly asserts episcopal authority and canon law canon law, in the Roman Catholic Church, the body of law based on the legislation of the councils (both ecumenical and local) and the popes, as well as the bishops (for diocesan matters). in order to crack down on dissent within his diocese over his intention to make New Westminster New Westminster, city (1991 pop. 43,585), SW British Columbia, Canada, on the Fraser River, part of metropolitan Vancouver. Founded in 1859 as Queensborough, it was the capital of British Columbia until Victoria was made capital after the union of British Columbia the first Anglican diocese in the world formally to recognize same-sex blessings. In the opinion piece by Bishop Terry Brown, we hear an argument that dispenses with the authority of the Christian tradition Christian traditions are traditions of practice or belief associated with Christianity. The term has several connected meanings. In terms of belief, traditions are generally stories or history that are or were widely accepted without being part of Christian doctrine. in ethics, the Lambeth Conference, the former Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the main leader of the Church of England and by convention is also recognised as head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current archbishop is Rowan Williams. , the Canadian house of bishops and, for good measure, the Roman Catholic catechism, the early St. Paul and the Old Testament, in order to defend the position held by Bishop Ingham. The formidable authority, being wielded by Bishop Ingham may only be supported in this case by dispensing with the authority of the Christian and the Anglican tradition, as in the argument of Bishop Brown. Bishops Ingham and Brown assert a newly minted interpretation of the Gospel virtues under the ancient mantle of their office. But if the one kind of authority is passe pas·sé adj. 1. No longer current or in fashion; out-of-date. 2. Past the prime; faded or aged. [French, past participle of passer, to pass, from Old French; see , then so is the other. Then on what basis is the authority of Bishop Ingham, or of any other bishop, founded? I hope that it derives from the authority of the Gospel itself. I fear, however, that this authority that dispenses with authority actually has no deeper basis than the one to which Bishop Brown himself appeals: "my experience of death and resurrection, my experience of Christian friendship, my experience of growth, my experience of prayer;" or "a relationship, a touching, an intimacy--which is experienced by me (or you) as grace-giving and filled with love." Although this sounds warm and cozy, I can think of no foundation for authority that is more chilling. Mark T. Mealey Calgary |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion