Damian Thompson—A Church of England bishop converts to Rome

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The former assistant Bishop of Newcastle, Paul Richardson, has been received into full communion with the Holy See, I am pleased to reveal. Richardson – also a former Anglican bishop in Papua New Guinea and diocesan bishop of Wangaratta in Australia – was received into the Church at the chaplaincy at Durham University last month.

He tells me that his conversion is not the product of recent controversies. “I would have become a Catholic even if the Church of England wasn’t ordaining women bishops,” he says. “In a sense I feel it’s what I’ve always been, so this is like coming home.”

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • CoE Bishops • * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Roman Catholic • Pope Benedict XVI

5 Comments
Posted February 17, 2010 at 5:02 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. MichaelA wrote:

“He tells me that his conversion is not the product of recent controversies. “I would have become a Catholic even if the Church of England wasn’t ordaining women bishops,” he says. ... Richardson, 63, is not planning to join the Ordinariate,...”

Okay, fair enough, I can see where he stands. What about Anglicanorum Coetibus - is there any word when somebody will actually use it? And, is there any indication that some group with more parishioners than clergy (or even more parishioners with bishops) will use it?

February 17, 8:02 pm | [comment link]
2. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote:

Another vote of confidence in the Church of England - not!  Another piece of good publicity for the Church of England - not!
Another example of how well and faithfully our church is being run - not!

February 17, 8:03 pm | [comment link]
3. Sidney wrote:

Is Richardson married?

February 17, 9:20 pm | [comment link]
4. deaconjohn25 wrote:

Welcome brother!

February 17, 9:58 pm | [comment link]
5. Conchúr wrote:

#1

The first Ordinariates are expected to be established sometime around the end of June or beginning of July. However these will be TAC primarily (FiF Australia has voted in favour of accepting AC so they too may be ready at that time). The time frame for the establishment of an ordinariate(s) in England is far less certain given that FiF probably won’t start making any move until after the Synod in July (indeed of the bishops in FiF, only Edwin Barnes has completely given up on the CoE and will make the move as soon as he can)

February 18, 10:07 am | [comment link]
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