THE P
RTAL Hats off to Bishop Alan Hopes
by Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane
January 2011 Page 10
Until seventeen years ago The Right Reverend Alan Hopes , Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster was an Anglican priest . He became a Catholic following the Church of England ’ s decision to ordain women priests . Of course , that was only the public face of his change . He became a Catholic because he believes the truth of the Catholic Faith .
When we arrived at Archbishop ’ s House , just by Westminster cathedral , it was a cold January afternoon , but our welcome was warm indeed .
Bishop Hopes ’ room is large with his desk and computer in one corner ; a large table surrounded by hard backed chairs for business meetings dominates in the centre . Three rather comfortable easy chairs grouped around a coffee table complete the scene .
As he ushered us into the room , we were met by that most welcoming of aromas – the smell of freshly brewed coffee .
He is charged with bringing the Ordinariate into being . Reflecting upon his own reception into the Catholic Church he remembered being received with over five hundred other priests , yet he is not surprised at the setting up of the Ordinariate and the groups preparing to join .
He is obviously buoyed by the Holy Father ’ s visit to England and Scotland , as well as delighted at the ecumenical meeting at Westminster Abbey . He is taking forward the Holy Father ’ s message about the new evangelisation , unity and mission . Bishop Hopes sees the Ordinariate in similar terms .
The remarks in the press about the Pope ’ s tanks parked on the lawn at Lambeth Palace have saddened him . “ The Ordinariate is set up in response to repeated requests from Anglicans over many years ,” He said .
Although the word ‘ historic ’ is over-used , Bishop Hopes was not afraid to describe the reception of John Broadhurst , Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton into the Catholic Church as ‘ historic ’. “ It is ,” he went on , “ a totally new conception .”
He is keen that the ecumenical dialogue continues and sees the Ordinariate in an ecumenical light . “ It was in Hyde Park ,” he said , “ The Blessed Sacrament was brought in ; there was the successor of Saint Peter with so many young people and not far from the place where many were martyred .” “ We must ”, he urged , “ continue to explore the road to unity .”
On the subject of Anglican patrimony being brought to the Catholic Church , he emphasised spirituality , hymnody , homiletics , scripture and a dialogue with secular society .
We asked if he thought the Ordinariate would affect ecumenical relations in the UK , and he replied with an unequivocal “ No !” In like manner , he doubted there would be much resentment in Catholic circles to the new arrivals . “ Catholics will just be pleased that people have become Catholics ,” he smiled .
On the vexed subject of buildings , he was mindful of the journey being made . “ On any journey , things must be left behind in-order to arrive at the new place ”, he said . “ In urban areas it might prove difficult for Ordinariate groups to have their own church building : like our ethnic communities they may be using the afternoon spot . Yet in the provinces there may be Catholic Churches with falling roles , and there they may usefully be united ,” he said .
He thought there may be fifty to sixty priests and between thirty to forty groups moving over . “ The relatively small numbers was not depressing to him at all . “ Our resources are stretched as it is ,” he said , and continued , “ We are not in the numbers game .”
We asked him how he saw the Ordinariate develop in the next ten years . He replied , “ Two things : First it will develop and grow and have an existence of its own and integrate with the Catholic Dioceses . Second : it will have a profound effect on the life on the Catholic Church in this island , especially with regard to Mission and Unity .”
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane