THE P RTAL
Advent 2013 Supplement
Page i
Important but small
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane with Mgr Steven Lopes and
Fr Hermann Geissler FSO at the Congregation of the Doctrine
of the Faith in the Vatican
As we approached the gate to the Vatican, the
Swiss Guard on duty came to attention and saluted.
Once we passed through the security checks, we
were shown into a lovely waiting room in the CDF
building that was once the Inquisition! Before long,
Mgr Steven Lopes (Official at the Congregation of the
Doctrine of the Faith) and Fr Hermann Geissler FSO
(Head of the Doctrinal Office of the Congregation)
arrived. We were greeted like old friends; which, I
suppose is just what we are.
Jackie: The Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
is three years old now. Is it developing in the way you
thought?
Archbiship Muller, Mgr Lopes, Jackie, Ronald and Fr Geissler
Anglican tradition to continue. This is really a new
form of ecumenism, and it has great potential. We
must, first of all, be grateful for everything that has
been done.
Mgr Lopes: I think it is developing quite nicely.
Mgr Lopes: On a practical note, we were aware
We always believed that the Ordinariate in the UK
that the UK would have challenges that the United
particularly would be a very important reality but
States, Australia and Canada would not necessarily
initially rather small. However, because of the gift
have. That certainly has been true, particularly in
that full communion is, we believed that it would
the attachments of individual
always become more and
faithful to their local parish
more attractive as an option
we were aware that the UK
church. Because of the
for some Anglicans who are
would have challenges that the
practical arrangements in
considering their relationship
with the Universal Church.
United States, Australia and Canada England, most parish churches
could not pass with the
We certainly have seen
would not necessarily have
community that was perhaps
growth, amongst the faithful
coming into full communion.
particularly, in some areas
In the other two Ordinariates, communities have
more than others. But it’s that kind of slow, steady
been able to bring their entire parish with them,
growth that actually lays a firm foundation for the
including all of their buildings and structures, so it
future.
was a much more seamless transition in some places.
Fr Geissler: I think we knew from the very
Jackie: A problem is that most, if not all, of our
beginning that it would not be easy to begin with for
Ordinariate groups are really lodgers in someone
the Ordinariate in the UK. I remember telling you
that there would be difficulties, because the devil does else’s Church building. It is hard to grow and develop
not sleep. We can learn from the past three years that in such circumstances.
it is a good beginning, and you have been persevering
Mgr Lopes: That’s exactly the reality that we’ve just
and you have been faithful. I am sure that now the
been speaking about isn’t it? Not only are you leaving
foundation is laid, which is very important for many
behind something that was familia r, something
others.
that was comfortable, but you’re entering into a
Even though it is small now, it has a great potential whole new reality and trying to persevere - not only
in itself. I still think that it’s one of the great actions
persevere, but to grow.
of Pope Benedict in his Pontificate, because he
established a new form, the Ordinariate, which
To maintain your identity as an Ordinariate
makes possible complete union with the See of
community in the context of a larger Roman Catholic
Peter and nevertheless allows many elements of the
parish is no small challenge. Archbishop Müller,