NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ...
MARCH TO OCTOBER 2006

27th October 2006
NEW ENGLAND: Anglicans elect Dr. Brian Marsh to serve as suffragan bishop

ANGLICANS from New England and New York have elected The Reverend Dr. Brian Marsh to serve as the suffragan bishop of the Diocese of the Northeast in the Anglican Church in America (ACA) Traditional Anglican Communion subject to the required . His appointment now requires the consent and approval from the international College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion. [Read More...]

5th October 2006
Some little "gems" expected of the liberal Anglican Synod, Perth

THE 46 th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Perth will be held at the Community School ,Mirrabooka, Perth from 6 th to 8 th October 2006. [ More]

5th October 2006
From Archbishop Hepworth's latest letter to his clergy:

"Anglican turmoil: Most of you will be aware of the extraordinary turmoil in the Anglican Communion, following the election of the first woman Primate, the refusal of the American church to desist from the homosexual agenda, the reaction of other parts of the world, the overwhelming vote in the English general Synod for women bishops, the high profile same-sex marriages of English clergy conducted under the new laws in Great Britain, the new round of expulsions of traditionalist Anglicans in many parts of the world. Less obvious is the erosion of catholic orthodoxy right across the Anglican Communion, from a position of dominance at the time of Archbishop Ramsay, to almost total insignificance today. At the same time, there have been several proposals for unity among traditionalist Anglicans that would seriously compromise us were we to accept them as they stand. The work of filtering, seeking advice, and in some cases confronting others on these issues has been deeply draining, but must be done if we are to have a recognisable Anglicanism in the world of our grandchildren."

5th October 2006
Consecrations for new Australian bishops set for 24th November in Adelaide

The Diocesan Ordinary of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia (ACCA), the Most Reverend John Hepworth has told The Messenger Journal that required preliminary documentation relating to the consecration of Fathers David Robarts and Harry Entwistle as Assistant Bishops in the ACCA and Regional Bishops for Forward in Faith has been completed. In a letter to the international College of Bishops of the worldwide Communion, Archbishop Hepworth wrote, "The two priests are extremely well skilled and qualified, and have served in senior positions in the church. Both would have long since been considered for Episcopal office were it not for the crisis into which we have all been pushed." [More]

5th October 2006
Episcopal Engagements -
The Most Reverend John Hepworth

The Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, Archbishop John Hepworth has just completed journeys to India and Japan, and plans travel to Canada and the United Kingdom in January and February.His engagements for the next few months are largely confined to his own Diocese, with an international fund raising campaign for the TAC in mid-November:

  10 October Chair Council, St Stephen's College Coomera
  13-15 October Visitation Western Australia, State Synod, clergy meeting. Farewell Mass for Father Ted Wilson, St. Ninian's, Perth.
  15-21 October Fundraising meetings for International TAC
  29 October State Synod, Sts George and Michael, Adelaide
  2 November Requiem for departed members of the Traditional Anglican Communion
  7 November Chair Council, St Stephen's College Coomera
  8 November Confirmation, St Stephen's College
  9 November Address Constitutional Symposium, Parliament House, Sydney.
  13 November Chair Pro-Life Rally, Town Hall, Adelaide Speaker - Linda Schlueter Roe V's Wade challenge Attorney, USA).
  17 November Valedictory Dinner St Stephen's College, Coomera
  20-23 November National Synod, Anglican Catholic Church in Australia, Passionist Monastery, Adelaide
  24 November Consecration of Bishops, Adelaide
  3 December Liturgical Welcome to new bishop, Perth
  4-5 December Speech Nights, Coomera
  6 December Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Priesthood, Father Reg Mills, Gold Coast.

4th October 2006
Surprise, Surprise . . . The Pope's a Christian!
By the Right Reverend David Chislett SSC
[Bishop David is Bishop of the Northern Apostolic District Australia, Traditional Anglican Communion]

The world of our childhood and youth very much conditions us for the rest of our lives. When I became serious about following Jesus in my early teens, I took it for granted - growing up in the poorer suburbs of Sydney"s "wild west" - that I was about to cop a fair bit of ridicule on all sides. That went with the territory. [More]

30th September 2006
Roman Catholic perspective on Anglican discussions
Anglicanism awaits its moment of truth

Likea ship anchored beside a vessel in distress, the Vatican is watching carefully the affairs of the beleagured Anglican Communion. Rocked by internal conflicts, the Communion is increasingly facing the grim prospect of schism - an event that would have significant implications for the Catholic Church. [More]

29th September 2006
In our September/October issue - highlighters:

•  TAC moving toward climax of long process of unity with the Holy See.
•  Feature article 40 th Anniversary of the historic meeting in Rome between Dr. Michael Ramsay and Pope Paul VI.
•  With Anglican unity dissolved. ARCIC Reports have failed to win the hearts and minds on either side.
•  FIF Traditionalists prepare for "impossible situation"
•  Lest we forget! The Anglican Bishop of the Murray reminds us of the invalidity of women priests and sacraments.
•  Fast backtrack to Canterbury for some continuers in the U.S.
•  "We must become ONE" The Holy Father's Address during an ecumenical celebration of Vespers in the cathedral of Regensburg.

We apologise for the lateness of this issue due to the Editor's recent illness

29th June 2006
'A separation within Communion is inevitable' - says Archbishop of Canterbury.

In a statement released at a press conference yesterday, Dr Jensen, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney says, 'Archbishop Rowan Williams has provided 'a great service' to the Communion by recognising that 'a separation within the Communion is inevitable'. [More]

29th June 2006
Bishop David Moyer SSC comments on the Election of new Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (ECUSA)

ON June 18th the General Convention of the Episcopal Church [in the United States] selected the Bishop of Nevada, Katherine Jefferts Schori, as the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church) [More]

20th June 2006
Anglican Communion split inevitable
Major split in the [Canterbury led] Anglican Communion now appear to be inevitable. Issues of gay and women in Holy Orders tears asunder a once great communion.

In an outspoken interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, said that divisions between liberals and conservatives were so profound that a compromise was no longer possible. <Read on>

20th June 2006
A former Catholic has been elected Primate to lead the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Katharine Jefferts Schori, a liberal bishop from Nevada who was raised a Catholic, was elected on Sunday as the first woman leader of the 2.3 million-member US Episcopal Church. <Read More>

9th June 2006
Catholic MP says Anglicans can keep Charles' coronation

British Catholic MP Ann Widdecombe has argued against a proposition from the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey that there should be a multi-faith coronation when Prince Charles succeeds to the throne. [More]

8th June 2006
Cardinal tells Anglicans that women bishops would destroy unity

Cardinal Walter Kasper has warned the Church of England that a move to ordain women as bishops would destroy any chance of full unity with the Catholic and Orthodox churches. [More]

5th June 2006
Out this week!
Our Premiere Edition The Messenger Journal

  • Unity but nor absorbed - An assessment by Bishop Peter Wilkinson
  • Meet Fr. Harry Entwistle - to be consecrated Bishop for West Australia
  • True joy is heaven sent
  • Ordinations in Australia and Britain - reports and pictures
  • Former Episcopalians say they have come home in Anglican Church in America
  • Chrism Masses across Australia
  • The Seekers
and lots more ....

3rd June 2006
Prominent churchman dies

LAY Canon Leland Francis Hilligoss died this week in Melbourne, attended by Father Graeme Mitchell, whose parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Melbourne he has attended since moving from his home in Hobart. He was one of the true pioneers of the Continuing Church movement, being a participant in the great Congress of St Louis, where the Affirmation of St. Louis was drafted and acclaimed. His interests were many and included great skill in heraldry. He designed the heraldic crests for a number of dioceses of the Traditional Anglican Communion. He was a very substantial benefactor of the Australian national church. He has left detailed instructions for his funeral to be in Hobart, including the use of bagpipes, and the request that Father Robert Maxwell, his former Parish Priest officiate. Archbishop John Hepworth will preach. A date for his funeral has not yet been set. May his noble soul rest in peace.

18th May 2006
Advertising campaign to challenge Da Vinci Code film

The Anglican Church in Sydney has launched a cinema advertising campaign aimed at challenging the claims made by the Da Vinci Code that Jesus was not God, did not die on the cross and that he married Mary Magdelene and had a family. <read more>

8th May 2006
Cardinal Pell says Catholics should read the Koran

The Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell has caused quite a stir particularly amongst the Muslim population in Australia by a speech he gave in the United States relating to the "Challenge of Islam". <click here for story>

* * * * *

3rd March 2006
Archbishop Hepworth released a draft statement

The statement is a draft for the consideration of the College of Bishops and Leaders of Forward in Faith. It has no authority until approved by the College, and published by the Primate on the instructions of the College.

Introduction: Powerful Anglican forces have continued to attack the integrity of those Anglicans who remain opposed to the ordination of women to the Diaconate, Priesthood and Episcopate. <read statement>

* * * * *

1 st March 2006
Ash Wednesday, Lent
From the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion

"There is a truly wonderful passage in the Prophet Hosea (set for the Sunday before Lent in the current Lectionary). The Prophet dreams of a future age (as prophets always do) when Israel will recover the vigour of her youth. "On that day, says the Lord, you will call me 'My husband'."

Centuries later, the Evangelist Mark records that Jesus said to the Pharisees "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they?" <read full statement>

* * * * *