John Lipscomb, the married, 59-year-old former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, was ordained a Catholic priest Wednesday.

The morning after, he expressed joy and a sense of relief. He's at peace, spiritually. He's just a priest now. He's not the boss.

"The part of the job that never fit was sitting in judgment of other people's lives," he said. "I'm at a point in my life where I want to do the things God called me to do, and not have to make the kinds of decisions that are impossible to make anyway."

"We're happy that John has found his place," said Jim DeLa, the Episcopal Diocese's director of communications. "If this is it for him, God bless him."

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Roman Catholic • Pope Benedict XVI • * Theology

1. Jeremy Bonner wrote: A candidate to head a Florida ordinariate, methinks. December 5, 9:23 am | [comment link]

2. MichaelSean wrote: I would not jump to this conclusion.  Frankly, Bishop Lipscomb did what he could to hold the line and with health issues and the stress of the situation it was more than he needed.  I do hope he is at peace…..He deserves it….He is a faithful priest. December 5, 10:01 am | [comment link]

3. Phil wrote: To have this many bishops becoming RC priests is a rebuke to the state of ECUSA and ought to be an embarrassment. December 5, 10:50 am | [comment link]

4. Eugene wrote: Phil: I agree with you: and it is a rebuke to ACNA as well.  They do not believe that ACNA is faithful to the Cathoic faith so went to Rome.  How sad for Anglicanism! December 5, 10:53 am | [comment link]

5. Conchúr wrote: #1 All things being equal I agree but I would be pretty sure that Fr Liscomb’s health problems would preclude it. December 5, 11:52 am | [comment link]

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