THE P RTAL
April 2013 Page 18
Letters to the Editor
From : Fr Richard Norman SSC
Thank you for Fr Peter ’ s Geldard ’ s article , “ Habemus Papam ” in the March edition of The Portal , in which he argues that those who do not enjoy full communion with the Holy See cannot with the Catholic Church cry ‘ Habemus Papam !’ upon the election of a new Supreme Pontiff .
I would like to suggest , however , that as the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Pope as ‘ pastor of the entire Church [ totius Ecclesiae ]’ ( 882 ) - to which , as CCC 836 makes clear , others ( besides Roman Catholics ) who believe in Christ ‘ belong or are ordered ’ - so he is pastor to us separated brethren also . I trust Fr Geldard will thus understand that I shall with enthusiasm - indeed , with great joy - echo the Cardinal Deacon ’ s announcement when he proclaims that happy news to the Church .
Fr Richard Norman St Mary with All Saints , Rotherhithe , London
From : Fr Philip Corbett SSC
I always enjoy reading The Portal magazine and am interested in the ways in which the Ordinariate is developing . I was saddened by Fr Peter Geldard ’ s article in the March edition . In it he asserts that those of us who are not Roman Catholics cannot use the phrase ‘ Habemus Papam ’ when rejoicing , as we surely will , at the election of a new Pope . The next Pope will , as previous Popes have done , take the title ‘ Universal Pastor ’: that is to say the chief pastor of all the baptised . I may annoy and disappoint Fr Geldard with my shouts of ‘ Habemus Papam ’ but I with Christians around the world will rejoice that we will have a Pastor for us all .
Fr Philip Corbett Priest Librarian and Chaplain , Editor of New Directions , Pusey House , Oxford
From : Peter Benson
I enjoy The Portal each and every month . It is a joy to receive the email telling me that it is ready . I then print off two copies , and read the first - my copy - from cover to cover at one sitting .
My next task is to pass the other copy on to a good friend who is unable to print out a copy with the request that once she has finished reading it , she passes it on to someone else . As far as I am ware , this happens at least nine times !
I was struck by Fr Peter ’ s article in the March edition about “ We have a Pope ”. Those of us who accepted Pope Benedict XVI ’ s generous invitation to full communion with the Catholic Church know just what these words really mean .
Unity is a precious gift , and the Papacy is about unity , the unity of the Christian Church . Thank you Benedict for your generosity , , and thank you Fr Peter for pointing this out to us all .
Peter Benson Haverhill , Suffolk
From : Ruth Taylor
Reading my copy of The Portal every month , brings to mind the fact that there are three Ordinariates in the world . Our Lady of Walsingham in the UK , Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Australia , and The Chair of Saint Peter in the USA and Canada .
Has any thought been given to a “ global ” edition of The Portal ? I am sure our brothers and sisters overseas would appreciate such a splendid magazine . There must be news that would interest us all in the development of this exciting venture of the Catholic Church , as well as local news that would benefit everyone surely ?
Ruth Taylor ( Miss ) Peterborough
From John Clegg
I have just returned from The Portal ’ s Ordinariate Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with Monsignor Keith Newton and would like to thank all involved in making it such a wonderful experience .
As we visited so many amazing places my wife , Rosanna , and I were quite overwhelmed , by the feeling that we had at last ‘ come home ’. We felt this especially at Mass in the Crypt close to the Tomb of St Peter and again at the Tomb of St Francis of Assisi .
As Catholics of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham , not only have we brought our Anglican heritage with us , but we are now , in a very unique and special way , completely one with the Apostolic faith which we hold so dear and precious .
John Clegg Aultgowrie , Muir of Ord , Ross-shire
The views expressed in these letters are not necessarily those of the Editors Letters for publication should be sent to :
The Editors , The Portal , 56 Woodlands Farm Road , Birmingham B24 0PG editors @ portalmag . co . uk