The Council of Bishops of the Society has issued a Pastoral Letter. The Bishops invite their clergy to read it, and make it available, in their churches on Sunday 20 July.

The text of the Pastoral Letter and a PDF file suitable for printing may be found on the website of The Society at

http://www.sswsh.com/fullposts.php?id=118

and

http://www.sswsh.com/uploads/PastoralLetter.pdf

Forward in Faith welcomes the statement issued by the Archbishop of Birmingham on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.

In the statement, Archbishop Longley comments:

"We note and appreciate the arrangement of pastoral provision, incorporated into the House of Bishops' Declaration and the amending Canon passed by the General Synod, for those members of the Church of England who continue to hold to the historic understanding of the episcopate shared by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches."

The full statement may be found here: http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/Home/News/Women-Bishops

The Society

under the patronage of S. Wilfrid and S. Hilda

www.sswsh.com

The Council of Bishops of The Society has issued the following statement:

Final Approval of the Women Bishops Legislation

Many in the Church of England are celebrating today, following final approval of the legislation to permit women to be ordained as bishops.

While recognizing this, we deeply regret the further obstacle that this decision places in the path to the full, visible unity of the whole Church.

We do, however, welcome the provision that has been made in the House of Bishops’ Declaration. It recognizes that our theological convictions about ministry and ordination remain within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition. It assures us that bishops will continue to be consecrated within the Church of England who can provide episcopal ministry that accords with those theological convictions. It makes provision for parishes to gain access to that episcopal ministry by passing resolutions.

This gives us confidence in our future as catholics who are called to live out our Christian vocation in the Church of England. For this we give thanks to God.

On behalf of the Council of Bishops                         

†  TONY PONTEFRACT                                         

The Rt Revd Tony Robinson                                            

Bishop of Pontefract

Chairman

We are pleased that the spirit of reconciliation continued to be displayed during the debate and that the Church of England is committed to providing bishops and priests for our parishes enabling us to flourish in the life and structures of our Church.

We welcome the clear recognition that the introduction of women bishops is set within a broader process of discernment within the Anglican Communion and the whole Church of God.

While we are deeply concerned about the consequences for the wider unity of the whole Church, we remain committed to working together with all in the Church of England to further the mission of the Church to the nation, and to model a way of living and working together despite deeply-held differences.

Forward in Faith thanks its members who serve in the Catholic Group in General Synod for their faithful witness, and for the hard work that has secured the provision that enables us to look to the future with confidence.

We note that resolutions under the 1993 Measure and Act of Synod remain in force. We are preparing advice for parishes on replacing them after November with new resolutions under the House of Bishops’ Declaration.

We welcome the statement issued today by the Council of Bishops of The Society:

http://www.sswsh.com/fullposts.php?id=117

†  JONATHAN FULHAM

The Rt Revd Jonathan Baker

Bishop of Fulham

Chairman