The surprise move by the Catholic church to welcome dissenting Anglicans, even married priests, into the fold, is disconcerting. I'd take advantage of it as I am an Anglican moving towards Rome, however the main reasons most want to switch not fight are intolerant; namely, homophobia and other small-minded positions. This sort of thing means that when Stephen Fry recently debated against the Church he was able to use the subtlety of a Dan Brown to shoot fish in a barrell. A pity, because the good that Catholicism does in Britain and the world is greater than the evils its detractors claim.
THAT HANDSOME MAN A PERSONAL BRIEF REVIEW BY TODD SWIFT I could lie and claim Larkin, Yeats , or Dylan Thomas most excited me as a young poet, or even Pound or FT Prince - but the truth be told, it was Thom Gunn I first and most loved when I was young. Precisely, I fell in love with his first two collections, written under a formalist, Elizabethan ( Fulke Greville mainly), Yvor Winters triad of influences - uniquely fused with an interest in homerotica, pop culture ( Brando, Elvis , motorcycles). His best poem 'On The Move' is oddly presented here without the quote that began it usually - Man, you gotta go - which I loved. Gunn was - and remains - so thrilling, to me at least, because so odd. His elegance, poise, and intelligence is all about display, about surface - but the surface of a panther, who ripples with strength beneath the skin. With Gunn, you dressed to have sex. Or so I thought. Because I was queer (I maintain the right to lay claim to that
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I hope you're feeling better and glad to see you back at work on Eyewear, for however long.
I was taken aback by the Pope's acceptance of married Anglican ministers into the Catholic priesthood. As I see it Rome is in fact allowing for married priests, at last! If you allow the few Anglican ministers to make the leap to Catholicism, then it's a short jump to letting future Catholic priests marry. This is only common sense and will deal with the disgrace and horror of Catholic priests molesting children, an example of which (a Bishop is involved) is currently in the news here in Canada. It will also help stop the unfortunate decline of Catholicism in North America.
As for Catholicism itself, it is so at-odds with Anglican doctrine and history that I can't see it ever being an acceptable alternative to the Anglican church for most of us Anglicans.
Homophobia is another issue and one that I personally feel is not at the base of the rejection of same sex marriage by so many Anglicans.
Best wishes,
Stephen
Great to see you back online. We hope that you are making a steady and sustained recovery.
Best wishes from Simon & Rusty