Damage self inflicted by the Communion is much worse than what Rowan thinks the other guys have done.  Let’s get realistic.

Right.  The “Reception” process (for WO) was initiated by headstrong jurisdictions in the Anglican Communion with warnings from the RCC and Eastern Orthodox that this will impair ecumenical efforts.

I’m afraid I’ve had to pretty much given up on the Tablet.  Even when I try to read it through the bias of its own lens, it’s still embarrassingly tendentious.

1.  Francis, that damage was caused entirely  by revisionists within the Episcopal Church, and it was spread by them, so let’s place the blame squarely where it belongs.  Now let’s see what the reappraisers have to say about that, shall we?

Matt Kennedy was right over at StandFirm to label this kind of complaining by ++RW merely as an unattractive “whine.”  The ABoC has only himself to blame for the low esteem in which the Pope apparently holds him (not as a theologian but as a bishop and Christian leader who is AWOL when it comes to guarding the faith and unity of the Church).

By way of contrast, ++Bob Duncan was informed by the Vatican almost a year ago that this move was coming down the pike.  The difference in communication strategies speaks volumes about how badly relations have degenerated between Rome and Canterbury.  But that need not mean equally bad relations between Catholicism and Anglicanism, since ++RW no longer really represents the AC as a whole.

David Handy+

“However, in Rome Dr Williams privately indicated he had been “bruised” by recent events and that there had been hurt, humili­ation and considerable anger in the Anglican Communion. The Tablet has learned that he expressed similar sentiments to the Pope. He told the BBC he was “disappointed” by Rome’s handling of events, and to Vatican Radio he said the way the apostolic constitution had been received had put “many Anglicans, myself included ... in an awkward position”.”

Am I alone in thinking that a trip to the Monyt Python Cheese Shop is due to select the proper fromage to accompany this new vintage whine?

‘Is the Pope stirring up trouble over Anglicans?’
This bullish approach towards Anglo-Catholic Anglicans from the Roman Catholic Pope (who is seeking to recruit disaffected C of E members by offering them special conditions within the Roman Catholic church) is potentially very dangerous indeed. Does he want to destabilise nearly 500 years of relative peace between Anglicans in England and Wales and Roman Catholics?
At a time when we need to hold together, national unity is now faced with an unexpected threat. The Pope and the Roman Catholic leaders should back off now, before the masses realise what is being proposed. This could easily lead to trouble on our streets. Sacaremongering? I don’t think so: this nightmare scenario is a possibility if this divisive proposal is not stopped now.
One cannot help thinking this dangerous situation has come about as a result of very weak leadership at the top of the Anglican Church—for too many years now, they have been navel-gazing and almost completely forgotten their Christian mission to this nation and beyond. The Pope has seen this weakness and it seems he now seeks to exploit it.
Just as our great Queen Elizabeth I, defender of the Church of England and our Christian faith, made a courageous stand against the threat from Rome, via Catholic Spain and France, for the first time in hundreds of years Anglican Christians need to stand and be counted, united in defending our English Christian faith and heritage.

TWO GOOD REASONS FOR ANGLICANS NOT TO BE SEDUCED BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:

1. Arrogance:

The Times 11 July 2007:
‘If it isn’t Roman Catholic then it’s not a proper church’ Pope tell Christians. The Vatican has described the Protestant & Orthodox faiths as not proper churches in a document issued with the full authority of the Pope:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2056515.ece#

2. Protection of Child Abusers:

New Catholic Archbishop Most Rev Vincent Nichols May 2009 praised the courage of guilty clergy for admitting their guilt: Daily Mail 21.05.09:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1185773/New-Archbishop-engulfed-Catholic-abuse-row-praising-courage-guilty-clergy.html

But what about the courage of the victims who suffered for years at the hands of these child abusers?

I smile at the possibility that thousands of Anglicans may be inclined to join the Roman church.  This just shows how poorly educated in Christianity the average pew sitter is.  Do they know they are to worship the Mother Mary as co-equal to Jesus?  Do they know they must accept the Pope as final authority on matters of belief? Will they agree to pay the millions of dollars of payoffs to shield the sexual predators in the priesthood?  I could go on.