Outrageous: Tony Blair says Pope must rethink 'entrenched' views on gays

Ruth Gledhill of the UK Times:

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has made the case for a rethink on conservative religious attitudes to homosexuals. Read our story in The Times today. In an interview with the gay magazine Attitude, Tony Blair says he wants to urge religious figures everywhere, including the Pope, to reinterpret their religious texts to see them as metaphorical, not literal. He predicts that in time this will make all religious groups accept gay people as equals. He also believes there is a change of heart taking place in evangelicalism, with many younger evangeliclas becoming pro-gay, that the issue with evangelicals and Catholics is 'generational'. We already knew the Blair family did not abide by the Church's teaching on contraception and it seems Blair's conversion has not changed this. Interesting that many converts become more conservative than those born to a faith or denomination, but Tony Blair has stuck by his liberal principles.

Time to let that conversion sink in a little deeper, Mr. Blair.

Newt Gingrich came into the Church over the weekend

I've managed to be pretty discreet about it. Can't say the same for the rest of the Internet.

The UK Daily Beast has a fun slideshow of famous Catholic converts.

I was most surprised by Gary Cooper.

Exclusive: Newt Gingrich conversion details; plans release of JP2 documentary

Earlier this week the New York Times dropped the news that Newt Gingrich will soon become Catholic (which I had rumored before), and I blogged about it.

I can now add some more details. Mr. Gingrich has regularly been seen attending Mass with his wife at the National Shrine here in Washington DC (including once by yours truly). He'll be entering the Church on Sunday, March 29th in DC.

Another interesting tidbit: Newt and his wife Callista are in the process of completing a documentary about Pope John Paul II’s pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 entitled "Nine Days That Changed The World":

Nine Days is meant to inspire and educate those who view it to understand the nature of freedom, to live in the truth, and to recognize that there is evil in the world that, with God’s help, must and can be defeated.

From the movie's website, it says we can expect its release this Fall.

Welcome home, Speaker.

Newt Gingrich is coming into the Church this Easter

David Gibson calls it "one heckuva parenthetical aside buried in the NYT Magazine's lengthy profile of Newt Gingrich" (and here it is in its entirety):

(A Baptist since graduate school, Gingrich said he will soon convert to Catholicism, his wife's faith.)

AmericanPapists won't be surprised - I was mentioning the likelihood back in November that he would convert this Easter.

Let's pray for him during his Lenten journey into the Catholic Church.

[photo credit: usawayne.]

Anglican leader Rowan Williams accepts authenticity of Lourdes

My apologies for not covering this story more closely, it is highly news-worthy, even unprecedented:

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was today branded a ‘papal puppet’ after he became the first leader of the Church of England to accept visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes as historical fact.

He asserted that 18 visions of Our Lady allegedly experienced by Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 were true.

His words shocked millions of Protestants worldwide because they not only signified a break with Protestant teaching on the Virgin Mary but also Dr Williams’s personal acceptance of the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which is explicitly linked to the apparitions.

The archbishop made his remarks during a three-day visit to the shrine in the French Pyrenees - the first ever by a leader of the Church of England. In a homily he preached at an international Mass there, Dr Williams spoke about the apparitions without any qualifications.

... He also praised the lives of the saints, another devotion seen as distinctively Roman Catholic.

... The archbishop’s pilgrimage comes just a week after Pope Benedict XVI made his own pilgrimage to the shrine.

He was invited to the shrine by Jacques Perrier, the Catholic Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes.

Dr Williams was joined there by the German Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, who celebrated the international Mass.

He was also joined by an unprecedented pilgrimage of 10 Church of England bishops, some 60 Anglican priests and about 400 Anglican lay worshippers, a number of whom are considering becoming Catholics in protest at the decision of the General Synod in July to pave the way for the creation of women bishops. (UK Mail Online)

The rest of the story recounts how Dr. William's actions and words have a whole set of people really, really steamed. What courage Dr. Williams has shown for following-through on the pilgrimage he set out on.

What does this mean in the broader context, in terms of the Anglican communion and Anglican-Catholic relations? Time will tell, but I'd appreciate any good commentary people have come across. Drop a link in the comment box!

Conversion Story: Mark Rutherford

"Rebel With a Cause: Bobby Jindal's Spiritual Journey"

Bobby Jindal has been in the news again lately, this time being mentioned as a short-list candidate for McCain's VP. I frankly hope and believe that won't happen. He's such an appealing figure, however, that I'm sure McCain is happy to have an association with him, even rumored.

Today the Wall Street Journal has a story about Bobby's faith, and specifically his conversion from Hinduism to Catholicism as a young man:

... Twenty years later, Mr. Jindal, a convert to Roman Catholicism, is being mentioned as one of John McCain's top choices for the Republican vice-presidential nomination. And his strong religious faith is often cited as a potential bonus for the ticket.

Hinduism is a diverse religion, with varying interpretations. Mr. Jindal, speaking from his office in Baton Rouge this month, said his parents raised him "in a monotheistic home with a firm belief in a God with traditional values -- the same sort of values you find in the Ten Commandments and other mainstream religions." Recalling their religion as "not a faith that was necessarily tied to a particular historical scripture or revelation," Mr. Jindal said, his parents "made their faith their own."

It is rare for Hindus to convert to Christianity or any other religion. According to a survey released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life earlier this year, eight in 10 American Hindus who were raised in the faith remain so as adults.

"I did not have an overnight epiphany like so many people do," said Mr. Jindal, calling his conversion a "very intellectual-based journey," where he studied countless religious texts. "Given my background and personality, that was an important part of the process." But, he notes, "I don't think you can 'read' yourself into faith. I had gotten to the point where I knew what history had to say about this person named Jesus and what he had done on Earth. . . . I think at some point you have to take a leap of faith."

And while we're doing a bobby post, you can watch him respond to the question about whether he is being considered for McCain's veep:

I frankly wonder if he's been asked to not categorically deny the possibility of being asked, just to keep the talk going (and therefore, his excellent track record in the public eye).

My previous posts on Bobby Jindal can be found here.

On integrating refugee conservative anglicans stateside

As a blogger, one of the most rewarding experiences one can have is watching several disparate stories suddenly fall into place nicely. Now of course, the danger is to let oneself impose an order that isn't actually there, but in this case I think there's some encouraging signs that the pieces are actually lining up....

First up, Damian Thompson (who is rapidly becoming my trusted source for UK Anglican/Catholic information, think of him as the British Rocco), has published that "The Catholic Church will expand its provision of "Anglican Use" parishes in the United States in order to allow whole communities of traditionalist Anglicans into the Roman fold".

The source for this development is Abp. John Myers of Newark, a canonist of the first order, speaking at this summer's Anglican Use Conference in San Antonio. The radioactive quote:

“We are working on expanding the mandate of the Pastoral Provision to include those clergy and faithful of 'continuing Anglican communities’,” Archbishop Richard J Myers said in San Antonio, Texas at a conference for “Anglican Use” parishes of the Roman Catholic Church.

Anglo-Catholic bishops attending the Lambeth Conference confirmed to ReligiousIntelligence.com that discussions were underway with the Vatican over their reception into the Roman Catholic Church, and were hopeful a way could be found for them to go over to Rome with their dioceses. [Religious Intelligence UK]

[More from his address to the conference:]

Through the Anglican Use liturgy, individuals from the Episcopal Church who reconcile with Rome have the option to worship in a manner that is familiar to them, which many practiced from childhood, and which has nourished their faith in Jesus Christ.

... (In some cases the sense of the sacred conveyed in the Anglican Use liturgy has been a vehicle of return for Catholics who had fallen away from the practice of their faith because of liturgical abuses during the implementation of the Novus Ordo.)

... Catholic faithful who worship according to the Anglican Use must never see themselves as different from other Catholics or somehow privileged among other Christian Communions. We are Catholics together, obedient to the Holy Father, to those bishops in communion with him and ever faithful to Magisterial teaching.

... The struggle is real. The choice is not always easy. However, the Holy See’s allowance of the Anglican Use liturgy for now might help to make the burden a little easier for some to bear. The mark toward which we press as Catholics and as Christians is Jesus Christ. He is our goal and we can only find Him through the Church he founded on Peter.

[Read his entire keynote address here.]

For more information on the Anglican Use rite (I've blogged about related topics previously):

• The Anglican Use Society - and do note: one of the speeches given at this year's conference was by a former episcopal bishop! Read more about that here. I believe I blogged about him when the news broke, but can't find it in the archives immediatly.
• Anglican Use on Wikipedia - also lists the Anglican Use parishes in the U.S (11 or 12)
• CIN provides the rubrics of the Anglican Use liturgy in a single page

Now here's the final, fun part: the part where I tie a couple separate strands together:

The exhumation of Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman has been requested by the Vatican to make veneration easier for his devotees. The prominent nineteenth-century convert from the Church of England is being considered for beatification, the last step before he is declared a saint.

Cardinal Newman’s body was buried in a small cemetery at Rednal in 1890. According to the Telegraph, the Vatican wants his remains to be moved to a marble sarcophagus in the Birmingham Oratory.

Father Paul Chavasse, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory, explained the reason for the request: "One of the centuries-old procedures surrounding the creating of new saints by the Catholic Church concerns their earthly remains. (CNA)

CWNews speculates that his beatification could take place "before the end of this year."

And how appropriate, that simultaneous upon the prospect of numerous Anglicans returning to the barque of peter, the Anglican-convert par excellence would be elevated to the dignity of a blessed!

And lest we forget the spiritual... "Is Cardinal Newman Praying for His Anglican Brethren?".

It's such a harmonious picture, the plan seems a bit more than human.

Open thread: The Anglican Situation

Even though we are still pre-Lambeth, the Anglican communion melting pot is quickly reaching the boiling point and, most importantly, the conservative run-off might make a run for Rome.

(Okay, I think I stretched that metaphor a bit too far. Anyway....)

The UK Telegraph has done a story on the most notable high-level candidate for conversion:

A bishop in the Church of England has become the first to announce he is ready to convert to Roman Catholicism following the decision to ordain women bishops without compromise measures for traditionalists.

The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, has called on the Pope as well as Catholic leaders in England and Wales to help him and his parishioners defect to Rome.

He hopes entire parishes under his control will convert but be allowed to remain worshipping in their existing churches, while guided by Catholic bishops.

Bishop Burnham, one of the three "flying bishops" in England who look after parishes which do not want women priests, has already been to the Vatican to discuss a possible move.

CWNews picks up on the story and fills in the details. I'll be watching the headlines closely in the coming weeks.

Now let's turn this into an open thread. Here are some starters:

• What do you think the Vatican reaction to such requests will be? What sort of accommodations might they make to make the transition easier?
• What do you think is the likelihood of high-level defections besides this one?
• In terms of raw numbers, how many Anglicans will follow their bishops' lead?
• How will the remaining Anglican communion respond to these developments?

Speak up!

3,000 Iraqis become Roman Catholics - showing Anglicans the way?

Damian Thompson (a UK journalist I'm starting to read closely), reports:

Three thousand Iraqi Christians living in America have become Roman Catholics together, in a deal with the Vatican that will spark the interest of traditionalist Anglicans who want to convert en masse without losing their cultural identity.

.... The lessons for English-speaking Christianity are almost too obvious to need pointing out. If the Catholic Church is prepared to demonstrate generosity in negotiable areas such as liturgical language and married priests, centuries of disunity can be overcome.

But, when it comes to Anglo-Catholics, that’s a big “if”. The Catholic ecumenical establishment – in Rome and, especially, in Westminster – is not keen on Anglican traditionalists, and recoils from the prospect of them worshipping together as Roman Catholics with their own communal identity.

The Iraqis in question are becoming Chaldean-rite Catholics. I studied with several Chaldean Catholic seminarians and have spoken to them about the persecution the Chaldean Catholic Church is undergoing in Iraq.

Did the Holy See "emphasize" the pope's baptism of a Muslim convert, or not?

The L'Osservatore Romano is trying to claim the Holy See has not emphasized the conversion:

The official Vatican daily, L’Osservatore Romano, has rejected claims in some media reports that the Holy See has “emphasized” the baptism of Magdi Allam, the Muslim convert and associate director of the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera who entered the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI. (CNA)

To point out an awkward truth, look at today's bulletino, published by the Vatican press office itself:

SUMMARY: 19 - 26 MARCH

• - Easter Triduum and Appeal for the Situation in Tibet
• - Holy Thursday: Chrism Mass and the Lord's Supper Mass
• - Good Friday: Lord's Passion, Way of the Cross at Colosseum
• - Egyptian Muslim Journalist Baptised by the Pope
• - Easter Saturday: Christ's Departure Is a New Return
• - Easter Sunday: the Resurrection Is an Event of Love
• - Missionary Martyrs and the Struggle against Tuberculosis
• - Telegram for the Death of Cardinal Suarez Rivera
• - Christ Gives Us the Certainty of Our Own Resurrection
• - Other Pontifical Acts

Yes, look at the fourth story: "Egyptian Muslim Journalist Baptised by the Pope".

In the text of this story it says:

"The catechumens who will receive Baptism tonight come from Italy, Cameroon, China, the United States and Peru. Among them is Magdi Allam, a well-known journalist of Egyptian origin, vice-director 'ad personam' of the Italian newspaper 'Corriere della Sera'.

He is the only named convert in the article. And the only convert to receive a bulletino headline.

Now, whether he is named because he is "well-known" or because he is Muslim, that is a separate question. Frankly, I'd imagine he is well-known for being an outspoken Muslim individual.

My first post on this story, blogged the day-of, already has a vigorous debate taking place.

Pope Benedict baptizes prominent Italian Muslim

This news got some press today:

Italy's most prominent Muslim commentator converted to Roman Catholicism on Saturday during the Vatican's Easter vigil service presided over by the pope.

An Egyptian-born, non-practicing Muslim, Magdi Allam has infuriated some fellow Muslims with his criticism of extremism and support for Israel.

The deputy editor of the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Allam often writes on Muslim and Arab affairs.

...

There is no overarching Muslim law on conversion. But under a widespread interpretation of Islamic legal doctrine, converting from Islam is apostasy and punishable by death -- though killings are rare.

CNN has video.

The AP's original coverage had a more dramatic opening sentence:

Italy's most prominent Muslim, an iconoclastic writer who condemned Islamic extremism and defended Israel, converted to Catholicism Saturday in a baptism by the pope at a Vatican Easter service.

I don't think the Vatican is trying to make any sort of political or religious "statement" in choosing this individual for baptism, as much as the press would like to see it in those terms.

Comments?

[photo: Dario Pignatelli/Reuters]

Papist conversion: Episcopal Bishop of SW FL John Lipscomb

An open letter was published today by the episcopal bishop of southwest Florida John Lipscomb:

I have communicated to the Presiding Bishop my request to be released from my ordination vows and the obligations and responsibilities of a member of the House of Bishops. I have taken this step in order to be received into the Catholic Church. Through a long season of prayer and reflection Marcie and I have come to believe this is the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s call to us for the next chapter of our lives...

... I have a deep love for the sacramental life, most especially the Eucharistic sacrifice through which God continues to pour his grace into our lives in the Word that needs no words.

... I believe God is now calling us to continue our ministry to serve in the healing of the visible Body of Christ in the world. I am convinced our Lord’s deepest desire is for the unity of the Church.

[Read full letter.]

While praying for John (as well as his wife and family) and rejoicing in his intention to join the Catholic Church, I just point out that the open letter misses several opportunities to witness to his episcopal brethren concerning his reasons for joining the Church.

His description of his devotion to the eucharist (only the true sacrament gets a capitalized 'E'), for example, would have been a prime opportunity, and while it is true that the Lord desires the unity of the Church, he also desires personal unity with each human being, and he has also revealed that this personal union is best sought in and through the visible structure of the Catholic Church. This strikes me as a more fundamental reason to convert to Catholicism.

Furthermore, ending your open letter with a Thomas Merton poem that begins "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going" isn't the most inspirational choice. I think it's clear that John Lipscomb at least knows where he isn't staying, and has some inkling where he is going, else he wouldn't put himself through the drama of a highly-public conversion.

[And do realize that these observations in no way detract from a) my joy at his decision and b) my fervent prayers for him and his family and c) my admiration of his honesty and bravery.]

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida has a statement. Lipscomb's successor is quoted as saying "I am pleased that [Lipscomb] and Marcie have found their place of spiritual solace."

The diocese of SW Florida (see map) contains 79 congregations and about 35,000 members.

As background, a 2003 article published by the St. Petersburg Times notes that "From the start, Bishop John B. Lipscomb has been at the forefront of the fight against the ordination of the American Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop." Also: "Lipscomb has been vocal about opposing what he views as the Episcopal church's slide away from scriptural teachings."

Here's another interesting quote: "I have said consistently that I have no interest in leaving the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Communion and I have no intention of leading this diocese out of the Episcopal Church," he said." Well, (we should all) thank God intentions can change.

In Februrary, The Tampa Tribune did an extensive article on John Lipscomb that I found very illuminating. Some excerpts:

The way John Bailey Lipscomb sees it, he got his miracles on the front end of life.

It was 1950, a time when society shunned unwed mothers and technology saved few premature babies. Lipscomb came into this world way too early, a 41/2-pound preemie born to a young woman who gave him up for reasons he never knew.

"Why I wasn't aborted or why I didn't die in the hospital, I can only owe to God," he says. "I got a real double blessing right from the start." Maybe that's why Lipscomb, 57, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida since 1997, doesn't bemoan the double-whammy that hit toward the back end of life.

In 2002, he learned he had Parkinson's disease. Then, three years ago during a mission trip to Africa, he contracted malaria. Both are chronic conditions that can worsen over time.

Wow, that's alot to have on one's plate. It may also explain the acceleration of his plans to enter the Church. The story also mentions that he recently went back to school at Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana to complete a doctorate in theology. I'm guessing that the extra studies didn't hurt his interest in the Catholic Church. The article also mentions John Lipscbom suggesting someone "organize a 30th anniversary celebration of the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church."

Yes, conversion takes time, and never occurs in a vacuum. All the more reason to keep him in our prayers.

And for the further-interested, the Tampa Tribune article also has a short interview.

Thanks to Michael Lewis for the tip. Amy has also posted on this story.