Screening

My regular correspondent comments,

If one were to look at David Moyer's CV one would see more red flags than at a May Day parade. And to a lesser extent, those of all clergy from "continuing" denominations, ie those who could not handle the discipline of TEC, not generally thought of as a tight ship, and sometimes a number of previous Protestant denominations. But Fr Phillips does not have that background. His CV looks pretty good to me .

As far as I know, with the exception of Aaron Bayles there are no more "continuers" in the OCSP ordination pipeline. This may be simply a reflection of the exhausted state of the relevant denominations, but if it is the result of a deliberate policy I think it is a prudent one. Fr Phillips is a different kind of problem, and not one that could have been easily predicted in 1983. The Church's ability to screen clerical candidates for paedophilia was clearly hopelessly inadequate until very recently; whether the psychological screening is adequate in other areas is hard to know, but I don't feel particularly confident.

And while selection and formation are very important, ongoing episcopal supervision is equally so. Reading this account from 2012 relations just couldn't have been better between Fr Phillips and Abp G-S. Clearly he could do whatever he wanted as long as he was prepared to do it as a member of the Archdiocese.

Regarding Fr Phillips, though, we're talking about a 35-year career as a Catholic priest, with different phases and different stories with different versions about each phase. Indeed, there are a few versions I've been asked not to repeat. The link my correspondent provides is to a well-known e-mail "explaining" Phillips's decision to keep OLA out of the OCSP:

As we have opportunities to deepen our communion with our Father-in-God, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, let’s make the most of them. He was genuinely moved to learn that we will be remaining in his jurisdiction for now, and he looks forward (as do we) to strengthening our ties with the archdiocese which has been our home for so long.

But a year ago, I posted an account of what actually happened in 2012 from someone who was there:

Fr. Philips NEVER had a kind thing to say about Archbishop Flores, Archbishop Gomez OR Archbishop Garcia-Siller. Even though he feigns attention on wealthy Hispanic benefactors, in private he speaks very disrespectfully of "Meskins" as he calls them. . . . [In early 2012,] Fr. Phillips made it known that the Parish was going to move to the Ordinariate. Soon, the Archdiocese got involved, inquiries were made and the parish was polled for demographic data. I remember Fr. Phillips meeting with the Archbishop and it was obvious the situation was being pondered by the Chancery. During this time the Atonement bulletin, written and published by Jim Orr himself began scurrilous attacks on the Archbishop, still relatively new to the Chair.

Regarding what kept OLA out of the OCSP, I've heard different versions from different channels, but all cite plans by Msgr Steenson to edge Fr Phillips out of the picture. The one that seems most pertinent is this, from a year ago:

Then, out of the blue, Msgr. Steenson meets with Fr. Phillips and the very next day EVERYTHING changed. It was such an abrupt change of direction and focus, I asked Fr. Phillips what was going on. He was shaken. He said Steenson had made it clear that it was arrogant for Fr. Phillips to have purchased a home next door to the parish because he could be transferred to anther parish within the Ordinariate at any time. . . . almost immediately Fr. Phillips published a blog post, explaining, in loving, glowing sentimentality how much we loved being a part of the Archdiocese as a Pastoral Provision parish and so on. He referred to Archbishop Gustavo as our "Father-In-God". It was enough to make your stomach turn, if you knew the whole story.

Another source more recently told me that there was long-standing opposition to Fr Phillips in the San Antonio chancery, no matter who was archbishop. It's hard to avoid thinking that Fr Phillips was always on somewhat shaky ground with his superiors, no matter archbishop or OCSP ordinary, and Bp Lopes was following what in effect would have been done by Flores, Gomez, Garcia-Siller, or Steenson given the right opportunity.

The background on the "our Father-in-God" e-mail that we have here suggests the nicest characterization we might make of Fr Phillips might be "two-faced weasel". I would guess that bishops from Flores to Lopes might privately agree; I have heard, as a matter of fact, of stronger terms recently employed.

This is about the poster boy for US Anglo-Papalism, let's remember. The issue in part is screening of candidates, but a better question might be whether this whole notion of setting up granny flats for Anglicans has ever been a good idea. I'd love to find a serious extended essay on syncretism, what it is, and how to recognize it. Can anyone recommend one?