SEARCHING FOR THE ARCHBISHOP (15); Re: "We should perhaps think of how we have contributed to the crisis"; Mass of Chrism 2016; Notes #17

Advice: this standalone topical post is not a sequential part of our ongoing sub-set (Link 12.1, Link 12.2, Link 12.3.1, Link 12.3.2) – concentrating on the issue of His Grace and the matter of women priests – which forms part of our bigger Series "Searching for the Archbishop...". However, it does touch on related issues. We are also well aware of what dread day this is in the Franciscan papacy; you may find our un-connected post quite apt    

It has been interesting to note the positive reception, notably in certain Traditional quarters also, of the homily given by His Grace The Most Rev. Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, ninth Archbishop of Liverpool, at the recent Solemn Mass of Chrism on Maundy Thursday at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Indeed there was much about it to commend. So we do.

Incidentally, as usual we are unable to show specific photographs of the Mass due to the archdiocesan media policy not to directly share images; never mind. However we can Flickr-link to the whole album as shared on Twitter [and as embedded in the Twitter grab image above].

Also, in passing, we note that the Mass was attended by the two most senior clerics from those Traditional priestly orders with ministry in or around this territory. Pictures show the procession featuring: Fr Armand de Malleray (foreground in this photo link – shown in cassock and surplice but with maniple which, amid the liturgical chaos of the Novus Ordo, especially that at our local Mother Church, at least served to symbolise, on that day of all days, the dignity of his priestly toil and labours and thus distinguishing him from the so-called "altar girls" processing immediately behind him in all but the same garb), who is Superior of the FSSP-England Apostolate (Priestly Fraternity of St Peter) who have responsibility for the fully Traditional church of St Mary, Warrington, in the Archdiocese of Liverpool; also Canon Amaury Montjean (midground in this photo link - the darker-haired of the only two priests seen in ordinary modern chasuble, i.e. not the frankly awful "rainbow wear" of the "Liverpool Diocesan Vestment" first introduced by His Grace at last year's Chrism Mass), who is Rector of the fully Traditional shrine church of St Peter & Paul and Philomena, New Brighton, overseen by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest for the Diocese of Shrewsbury. We pray that the presence of Fr de Malleray and Cn Montjean may have afforded a passing opportunity to convey a few helpful - but always subtle, of course! - ars celebrandi suggestions to the cathedral's liturgy team.

Anyway, back to His Grace's homily. We were struck by the following: "...the sacrament by which Jesus absolves us through his priests from our sins is poorly appreciated in our days. In most of the parishes in the Western world the Communion queues are long while the Confession queues are short or do not exist at all. The confessional is sometimes called the 'loneliest place in the Church'. This looks like a crisis. We should perhaps think of how we have contributed to the crisis."

Well, yes.

SEARCHING FOR THE ARCHBISHOP (12.3.1); Re: His Grace and the subject of "women priests"; our analysis finally triggered by matters arising from the Roscoe Lecture, October 2015; this time considering the blurred lines of the Nottingham period from 2002-07; third in a short sub-series; Notes #15

Advice: this post (12.3.1) is the third of a sub-set within a broader Series. It can be read either as a standalone commentary or in the light of the first two parts (Link 12.1), (Link 12.2) 

We pick-up our Series by beginning to concentrate roughly on the period immediately after the confusing events of 2001, as explored in our last post, until circa 2007, i.e. the first half of His Grace's 13.4 years as the ninth Bishop of Nottingham – his first episcopal appointment following his consecration in December 2000.

In theory, this should have been a delicate time for the still relatively new and episcopally inexperienced Dominican bishop given the confusion that, apparently, he knew had wrongly been spread about his views during his first year in Nottingham. For as we later learned (but not until 2008) the disturbing events of 2001, when His Grace was publicly proclaimed to be pro so-called "women priests", apparently stemmed from a misquotation in a botched interview first published in a local diocesan youth magazine and then in the (apparently independent) diocesan newspaper. Therefore, based on the clarifications given in 2008 – when His Grace unequivocally stated that he was against the ordination of females and furthermore that he had clearly stated as much in 2001 only for the complete opposite to be printed – it is a reasonable retrospection to say that, from 2002 onwards, he would have been keen to ensure there were no further erroneous perceptions about him spread around.