Because there are so few Episcopalian/Protestant candidates/converts to create or support an Ordinariate parish, the Ordinariate is forced to look for "disgruntled cradle Catholics" to fill the ranks, even if they have to bend a few rules to do this. What is a disgruntled cradle Catholic? The easy answer is a Catholic that is fed up with the party church atmosphere of the many Catholic parishes that exist today. . . . . The disgruntled cradle Catholic is looking for a parish that has a good reverent Mass, good preaching/sermons, good music and possibly a good choir.However, it appears that the territorial bishop can still make things difficult for an ordinariate parish, as Bp Barnes in San Bernardino appears to have done for Bp Lopes. I would imagine that disputes would wind up in the CDF, but I can't imagine the CDF would appreciate too many appeals for arbitration, especially for such small and unpromising groups. Bp Lopes must presumably choose his battles. He could take on Abp Garcia-Siller, but I surmise he had to be more careful with Abp Hebda. However you slice it, the ordinariate was out in St Paul-Minneapolis.Generally an Ordinariate parish offers this kind of liturgy. But, so does a Fraternity of St. Peter and St. Paul (FSSP) Latin only parish, or a St. Pius X Latin only parish, or one of the many other societies that are out there. But,these fraternity/societies have to be invited into the diocese and most bishops are loath to invite them for fear of losing parishioners and revenue. Since the Ordinariate is an entity unto itself with its own bishop this is not a problem, they don't have to be invited into a diocese.
A second problem with the disgruntled is one that Fr Ripperger, himself traddie-friendly, raises about traddies: there's often a surreptitious payoff involved for those who look for a reason to separate themselves from an OF parish. They may claim to dislike versus populum or Dan Schuette, but there's potentially a deeper reason to look for a different fellowship. They can, in Fr Ripperger's view (and he knows these folks well), be looking to exempt themselves from more basic Church teachings by insisting on Latin masses or Gregorian chant. In the ordinariate context, the faux Olde English and the ostentatious chapel veils serve a similar purpose for such a group.
The visitor raises the question of the reluctant Anglicans as well:
This Ordinariate model has a lot of problems to overcome. First is married priests and their families. How does this fit in with the Catholic church? I have found that many of the Episcopal priests want to keep one foot in the Episcopal church and one foot in the Catholic church. Why? Family/friend concerns, perhaps being moved from one parish to another, retirement pensions and the list goes on. I think many of the priests and their families would like to stay right where they are.A second issue is also reflected in the more recent intake, many of the priests are dealing with a shrinking Protestant job market, made more difficult by the entry of women and openly gay men. Some haven't been able to start Protestant careers at all, while others have had careers peter out while still in middle age. The ordinariate is simply a last and least bad option for these men, for whom the Holy Spirit is at best a secondary consideration.It is comfortable, but it has become untenable for them to stay. Why? A lot of the Episcopal churches now welcome/condone same sex couples/marriages, have accepted abortion, have women priests and bishops and the list goes on. Some of these priests are moved by the Holy Spirit to come over to the Catholic Church, but are hindered by some of the considerations mentioned above. But, again you can't have it both ways. You either cross the Tiber or you don't.
That the ordinariate has affected a certain amount of Episcopalian style sweetens the deal a little bit, but on one hand, it fuzzes over the question of just why these men have come into the Church, while on the other hand giving them the prestige of Catholic clericals and the title Catholic priest when, as we've seen already, there are men in the North American ordinariate who should bot be in it. The visitor continues,
Wouldn't it be wonderful if these Episcopal parishes, their priests and their families, their congregations, the buildings and everything else would just make the decision to come into the Catholic Church? Wouldn't it be easy? Very little would change except that you would add "Roman Catholic" to the name of the parish. But, unfortunately, life is very rarely that easy.I would think the solution for many of the mediocrities (and some charlatans) who've been ordained by Bp Lopes would be to get real, go on leave, and learn to code. For Anglican laity, there's RCIA just down the street any time.As you have pointed out to us, the story of your parish (St Mary of the Angels) is replete with horror stories of dissident groups and expensive litigation that is ongoing. It appears to me that the current administration in Rome and most of the bishops are not very warm to the idea of the Ordinariate. So don't expect a lot of help and cooperation from these folks. If an Ordinariate parish siphons off "disgruntled Catholics" from local party parishes the priests of these parishes and bishops of these dioceses will not be happy.
So what is the answer/solution to all of this? If one is moved by the Holy Spirit to come into the Catholic Church because they truly believe that the Catholic Church is Christ's true church and the church that He Himself founded, then just make the move. Just do it. It's that simple. I personally have always believed that the whole Pastoral Provision/Ordinariate thing was a big mistake and would be fraught with many problems. These problems are now seeing the light of day. As I said, if one is moved to become Catholic one should just do it. You will be happy and God will be happy.
