THE P RTAL
October 2014
Page 3
Portal Editorial
Will Burton looks back at a hectic month around the UK
Ecumenism
Elsewhere in magazine land there have been nasty
words written about the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham’s “Called to be One” day. It is surprising,
is it not, that amid all the talk of ecumenism, the
Ordinariates are seen to be a problem rather than
a solution? In the UK, there are places where
friendly relations continue between members of
the Ordinariate and Anglicans. Yet in other places,
relations are fraught. This ought not to be so. It is not
how Christians treat each other.
It all began of course, with talk of Pope Benedict
placing his tanks on the lawn at Lambeth Palace. The
formation of the Ordinariates may have been many
things, but “tanks on lawns” they were, and are, not.
Pope Benedict saw in those Anglicans asking for
assistance, something that would enrich the Catholic
Faith and be of benefit to the Catholic Church
in her quest for unity. Far too many people - as
Mgr Steven Lopes said in his recent London talk
to the Ordinariate Clergy - confuse “unity” with
“uniformity”.
The Portal hopes to look more closely at this
aspect of ecumenism in a forthcoming issue. For now,
it is sufficient for us to place the issue before you, our
loyal readers, and ask for your prayers.
Called to be One
This initiative was a great success. All over
the country, people came to see just what this
“Ordinariate” was. Numbers varied, of course, as did
the make up of the visitors themselves. Some groups
welcomed Anglicans, keen to see what we are up to.
Others had Catholic visitors, also wanting to know
what - and who - we are.
Attempts to pour cold water on this project were
way off beam. It was a resounding success. Just look
at the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham web
site at www.ordinariate.org.uk - go to “Latest News”
and then “archive”. It is all there. The Salisbury Group
welcomed over one hundred people, and many
groups had forty or so visitors.
Fr Christopher Lindlar and his committee are to be
contents page
congratulated for their endeavour. There is an article
on this venture elsewhere in The Portal.
The Scottish Referendum
On the eve of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham’s Festival, Scotland voted to remain in
the Union. Quite what this means for Great Britain,
let alone the Ordinariate, remains to be seen but it
does seem that, as they say, “things will never be the
same again”. What is certain is that there is still much
for the politicians to discuss, and for us to pray about.
The Ordinariate of Our Lady
of Walsingham Festival
Once again, there is an article about this deeper
into this magazine. That over four hundred people
crammed into Westminster Cathedral Hall and
were treated to accounts of four of our Groups and
their progress says a great deal about the enthusiasm
for the Ordinariate and our mission. Mass in the
Cathedral was one of those, “never to be forgotten”
occasions. Cardinal Nichols honoured us with his
presence and gave a meaty and thoughtful talk.
The previous evening, Dr William Oddie had
spoken at the Assumption, Warwick Street, about the
formation of the Ordinariates and their gestation.
This was followed by a wonderful reception where
wine was drunk and canapés eaten. A familiar theme
in this magazine!
Saturday concluded with our Ordinary sending us
home with the mission of commitment. The Festival
itself was brought to a climax at Sunday Mass (sung
to Fr Mark Elliott-Smith’s new setting). We all went
home with a spring in our step, encouraged and
renewed in our task of evangelism and ecumenism.