Link Roundup: Men of God, Not Ladies of God

Ruth Gledhill writes in Christian Today that Anglican priest Philip North, who will be soon be consecrated as a bishop, is planning to break CoE tradition by refusing to let some of the other bishops present lay hands on him at the ceremony. The reason? He doesn’t want hands that laid on now-Bishop Libby North to ruin the traditional apostolic succession of male bishops.

Although no-one from the Archbishop’s office, the diocesan office, the cathedral or the women’s ordination group WATCH would comment to Christian Today, a source said the confidential plans had caused “great upset” because they revived the concept of “taint.”

Taint. I don’t even have to make a joke. To each his (and his and his and his etc.) own, but it makes me wonder why don’t Anglo-Catholics go over to Rome? If you tend to like resplendent garb, medieval traditions and, by the way, no ladies? Rome is the place for you! Rome stands firm on the maleness of its priests.

Think about it, Fr. North.

In the meantime, Rev. Lane did became a bishop and tainted many episcopal hands in the process. A man yelled “not in the Bible!” during the consecration.

As far as the Rome issue goes, the BBC reports:

A small number of clergy and lay people already left to join the Catholic Church in 2011 over this issue.
More departures for Rome are unlikely, but the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are aware that while Anglicanism is a broad church, so to speak – they need to keep paddling hard to keep all its members on board.

Paddle harder, CoE.

Thanks to fellow KtB ed Kaya Oakes for passing this item along. CBS San Francisco’s Da Lin writes  that at San Francisco’s Star of the Sea parish, altar girls have been defrocked and some parishioners are upset. Fr. Joseph Illo defended his decision, saying the future of the church is at stake.
“’The specifics of serving at the altar is a priestly function,’ Illo said. ‘And the Catholic church does not ordain women.’”

Where have I heard this language before? Oh yes. From the New Emangelicals. Anyway, income and attendance are both up at Star of the Sea. Score one for the Emangelicals, who have thoroughly trounced schoolgirls. Well-played, manly men. Well-played.

The Good News is that you can now follow The New Emangelicals (Emangelists? For some reason I prefer the former) on Twitter @eMANgelization. As of now, they don’t yet have an avatar, and are represented by the generic, completely inappropriate egg. Twitter’s trying to feminize them too, dangit. Being “creative” and “helpful” as a lady should be, I have a few suggestions for their avatar.

• The Village People. What an array of manly archetypes! They also have a great song (possible Emangelical anthem?) called “Macho Man.”

Perfect, right?

• Gaston, a man rejected by a book-loving shrew.

There’s no man in town half as manly.

• Champ Kind, persecuted San Diego sportscaster.

Have you guys heard of him? He’s courageously taking a stand against the feminization of local news. You should get in touch. I mean, reach out. I mean, shoot him an e-mail.