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Thomas Lipscomb's frontal assault on the baleful machinations of the hierarchy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (PECUS) is at once a lamentation and a cautionary tale. Anyone who is remotely aware -- or cares -- about what has happened to "the Republican Party at prayer," also knows -- or should -- why this descent into the abyss came about. As an outside (Catholic) observer, I have read of the significant numerical decline in parishioners of "Mainline Protestant" religious bodies over the past two decades, so the drawing of a line in the sand by the Anglican bishops was, finally, of necessity, and a logical step for those who wish to salvage their faith from the corrosive impact of modernism. While it is humorous to read of the impact of "tree huggers, thumb suckers, bed wetters, homophiles" on PECUS, there is a progression taking place that should alarm adherents of any religion that calls itself one, and not a social service agency.

My personal introduction to what Mr. Lipscomb describes was sharply brought into focus in 1990, when I served at the U.S. Embassy to The Holy See. At an official Vatican reception one evening, my wife and a woman she had never before met were talking when the lady, in reference to a question about her husband, pointed to this man across the room. What was peculiar was that the man was wearing the vestments and collar of a Roman Catholic priest. At the time, there were literally hundreds of Anglican priests who had either made, or were requesting, their transfer into the Catholic clergy. In the course of the evening, the newly Catholic ordained priest described in full why he had made the move, much of which is covered in Mr. Lipscomb's article. But readers should also note that the Anglican bishops who are the prime movers in this action are not representative of the Anglican Church in the West. Years after leaving Rome, on a tour of the magnificent Anglican cathedral in Wells, I asked our guide, an older man, if there were any High Anglican services in the church. He responded in the negative, but I believe he muttered, "Isn't that a tragedy?" With each year, the impact of modernism continues to erode more of Christian bodies, and the Anglican Church is not the only victim.

I began by saying that Lipscomb's article is also a cautionary tale, for much -- far too much of what plagues the Western Anglican Church is seeping into the Catholic one. Am I an alarmist? I don't believe so, and here I do not only refer to recent homosexual (for that is what they are) scandals within the Church. To understand my concern, one should read, Rev. James Morrow's Preaching Life before calling me unnecessarily critical. Father Morrow -- not I -- wondered if the (Catholic) bishops of Britain were in "undeclared schism" with Rome regarding Catholic teachings on sexual morality. Further, when the Papal Nuncio scolded Morrow for his efforts -- which three times resulted in his being sent to jail -- at abortion factories. I will not repeat what I've written on these pages previously, but if Roman Catholics think they are immune to the conditions described in this article, I have but two words: think again!

"The meeting was hosted by the Bishop Duncan of Pittsburgh and presided over by seven archbishops from the West Indies, South East Asia, and Africa."

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