Pope Benedict stepping down, cites poor health

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict shocked the world on Monday by saying he no longer had the mental and physical strength to cope with his ministry, in an announcement that left his aides "incredulous" and will make him the first pontiff to step down since the Middle Ages.

The German-born Pope, 85, hailed as a hero by conservative Roman Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, told cardinals in Latin that his strength had deteriorated recently. He will step down on February 28 and the Vatican expects a new Pope to be chosen by the end of March.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Pope had not decided to resign because of "difficulties in the papacy" and the move had been a surprise, indicating that even his inner circle was unaware that he was about to quit.

The Pope does not fear schism in the Church after his resignation, the spokesman said.

The Pope's leadership of 1.2 billion Catholics has been beset by child sexual abuse crises that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.

The pope told the cardinals that in order to govern "...both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter."

He also referred to "today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith."

The last Pope to resign willingly was Celestine V in 1294 after reigning for only five months, his resignation was known as "the great refusal" and was condemned by the poet Dante in the "Divine Comedy". Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 to end a dispute with a rival claimant to the papacy.

"NO OUTSIDE PRESSURE," JUST ADVANCING AGE

Before he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.

But after several years into his new job Benedict showed that he not only did not bite but barely even barked.

In recent months, the pope has looked increasingly frail in public, sometimes being helped to walk by those around him.

Lombardi ruled out depression or uncertainty as being behind the resignation, saying the move was not due to any specific illness, just advancing age.

The Pope had shown "great courage, determination" aware of the "great problems the church faces today", he said, adding the timing may have reflected the Pope's desire to avoid the exhausting rush of Easter engagements.

There was no outside pressure and Benedict took his "personal decision" in the last few months, he added.

Israel's Chief Rabbi praised Benedict's inter-faith outreach and wished him good health. The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Church, said he had learned of the Pope's decision with a heavy heart but complete understanding.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Pope's decision must be respected if he feels he is too weak to carry out his duties. British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "He will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions."

The pontiff would step down from 2 p.m. ET on February 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor was chosen to Benedict who succeeded John Paul, one of history's most popular pontiffs, the spokesman said.

Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78 - 20 years older than John Paul was when he was elected - Benedict ruled over a slower-paced, more cerebral and less impulsive Vatican.

MEEK DEMEANOUR, STEELY INTELLECT

But while conservatives cheered him for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, his critics accused him of turning back the clock on reforms by nearly half a century and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.

Under the German's meek demeanor lay a steely intellect ready to dissect theological works for their dogmatic purity and debate fiercely against dissenters.

After appearing uncomfortable in the limelight at the start, he began feeling at home with his new job and showed that he intended to be Pope in his way.

Despite great reverence for his charismatic, globe-trotting predecessor -- whom he put on the fast track to sainthood and whom he beatified in 2011 -- aides said he was determined not to change his quiet manner to imitate John Paul's style.

A quiet, professorial type who relaxed by playing the piano, he managed to show the world the gentle side of the man who was the Vatican's chief doctrinal enforcer for nearly a quarter of a century.

The first German pope for some 1,000 years and the second non-Italian in a row, he traveled regularly, making about four foreign trips a year, but never managed to draw the oceanic crowds of his predecessor.

The child abuse scandals hounded most of his papacy. He ordered an official inquiry into abuse in Ireland, which led to the resignation of several bishops.

STRING OF SCANDALS

Scandal from a source much closer to home hit in 2012 when the pontiff's butler, responsible for dressing him and bringing him meals, was found to be the source of leaked documents alleging corruption in the Vatican's business dealings, causing an international furor.

He confronted his own country's past when he visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

Calling himself "a son of Germany", he prayed and asked why God was silent when 1.5 million victims, most of them Jews, died there during World War Two.

Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth during World War Two when membership was compulsory. He was never a member of the Nazi party and his family opposed Adolf Hitler's regime.

But his trip to Germany also prompted the first major crisis of his pontificate. In a university lecture he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying Islam had only brought evil to the world and that it was spread by the sword.

After protests that included attacks on churches in the Middle East and the killing of a nun in Somalia, the Pope later said he regretted any misunderstanding the speech caused.

In a move that was widely seen as conciliatory, in late 2006 he made a historic trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey and prayed in Istanbul's Blue Mosque with a Turkish Mufti.

But months later, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami met the Pope and said wounds between Christians and Muslims were still "very deep" as a result of the Regensburg speech.

(Writing by Peter Millership; editing by Janet McBride and Ralph Boulton)

Church of England Postpones Bishopesses

Church of England Postpones Bishopesses

Final approval of the legislation to allow women to become 'bishops' in the Church of England was defeated by the General Synod today, because the vote in the House of Laity was less than the necessary two-thirds majority.

The main motion before Synod was

That the Measure entitled 'Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure' be finally approved.

and this required a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in each of the three houses. [Abstentions are counted but not included in the calculation.] The votes were:

	For	Against	Abstention
Bishops	44	3	2
Clergy	148	45	0
Laity	132	74	0

New APA Anglican (Traditional) church opens in Summit Cove

After months of construction, a congregation has a home

By Kathryn Turner

Summit Daily News

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ENLARGE

The Rev. John S. Longcamp recently started holding services at the St. Dunstan's Anglican Church at 40 Cove Blvd. in Summit Cove.

Summit Daily / Mark Fox

It all started on Sept. 29, 2011, in the Summit Cove home of Rev. John Longcamp. Eleven people gathered there for the first meeting of St. Dunstan's Anglican Church — a congregation that, after months of getting together in private homes, finally has a home of its own.

St. Dunstan's officially opened its doors last month in a new space, in the Soda Creek Neighborhood Center in Summit Cove. The small rental unit — tucked next to a cafe, a flower shop and a wine store — can seat about 25, and is a joy to members who can now practice their faith inside a new church, inside Summit County.

The Anglican religion is a Christian denomination with historical connections to the Church of England. Before, the closest Anglican churches were in Denver, Longcamp said.

Member James Collins, a retired microbiologist and professor, met Longcamp about three years ago on the way to a hike. Collins happened to mention that he and his wife had started an Anglican church years ago in Montana, to which Longcamp responded that he is an ordained Anglican priest. The Collins family, along with another couple, asked Longcamp if an Anglican church could be started in Summit County, hence the first meeting in late September. After that, the group met weekly for study and prayer in various participants' homes, and by the new year, were determined to make it official: They gained an Anglican fellowship status, and were awarded the title of St. Dunstan's.

Over the next few months, all of the details were worked out: the church got a checking account, found a new space and was incorporated as a nonprofit. With the help of church junior warden and retired architect Ken Mace, the former office space was transformed. On June 17, the first service was held in the new facility.

The feeling was very warm and wonderful — “a place to build into a home,” Collins said. Already, the space has an organ — donated by Longcamp's neighbors — and other necessary items found by treasurer Judy Collins through Ebay, thrift stores and other sales. Three of the church's attendees have organized a quilt ministry, in which they are making and supplying quilts for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Denver, and there is also a hiking group.

Eventually, the parish will need more space, especially if it gains more members and eventually starts a Sunday school, but for now, the new church is more than adequate, Longcamp said.

For those who would like to attend a conservative and traditional church, “we're very welcoming,” Longcamp said.

For more information, visit the church website at www.stdunstancolorado.org, or call (970) 262-3604.

This experience in starting an Anglican Mission church like St. Dunstan in Colorado can also be possible here in the Philippines! By God's grace. ACPT

Priest admits being married to a Filipina

A Catholic priest in Australia has made a controversial revelation: he has been married to a Filipina for a year now.

According to Yahoo! Australia's 7News, Father Kevin Lee, a priest for 20 years in Glenmore Park, Sydney, admits "living a double life" with his wife Josephina, whom he met in the Philippines.

“So I've fallen in love and I've got married and it's outside of most people's awareness, but I'm sure people within the church could have had a suspicion,” Lee told 7News.

The Australian priest claimed that there are many others like him and that he pitied those “sacrificing” priests around the world who are denying themselves a relationship.

“That's one of the reasons that motivated me to make public my admission that I'm one of those people who's been a pretender: To draw to the attention of the public that there are more like me, in fact most of them,” Lee was quoted as saying.

“I feel sorry for them, I really do, but I think they need to admit they are not being led properly. I think celibacy has to go as a prerequisite for being a minister in the Catholic religion,” he added.

While urging for the abolition of celibacy, Lee also plans to write a book about what he believes is the wider wrongdoing of fellow priests.

However, after making a public confession of his marriage, 7News reported that Lee has been removed from his position as parish priest and has been excommunicated by the church.

The head of the diocese, Bishop Anthony Fisher, denied Lee's claim that most priests live double lives and that the hierarchy knew of his marriage.

“As Father Kevin is aware, by his actions he can no longer operate as a priest and as a result I will immediately be appointing an administrator to Padre Pio parish,” Fisher said in a statement.

First Roman Catholic Church to rise in Sagada

Sagada in the Mountain Province has its hanging coffins, the famous Sumaguing caves, and its own home-made yoghurt.

What it doesn't have is its own Catholic church. But that will soon change with the construction of the first Catholic church in the mountain town this year.

Sagada has been predominantly Episcopalian-Anglican ever since missionaries were sent there in 1907.

“This explains why until now we still have no Catholic Church in the town proper for our Catholic tourist to visit or attend Masses,” Fr. Pablo Lumiwan, Sagada Mission Rector was quoted as saying in apost in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website.

Catholics in the town have had to travel to Kilong village half an hour away to pray and hear mass. They will no longer have to go far once the church is built.

"The church will also provide a devotional destination for Catholic tourists who are looking for a church nearby where they can pray or celebrate the Eucharist," the priest said. Aside from the church, the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe will also build a shrine to "expand the Catholic presence in Sagada."

The vicariate, which has jurisdiction over Sagada's Catholics, actually broke ground for the church in 2009. They could not build it then because they lacked funds.

To help pay for construction of the church, there will be a fund-raising concert at the University of Santo Tomas on May 4.

Among the performers at the concert are the choir of Coro San Jacinto, the Cagayan State University Ensemble, and the UST Symphony Orchestra.

"The concert aims to raise the awareness and generosity of the faithful in supporting our Vicariate to achieve the dream of establishing our own church in such a beautiful town," Lumiwan said.

From Yahoo News

Anglican Liturgy , Evangelical worship style combine

Anglican liturgy, evangelical worship style combine at Imago Dei in Orono

Kevin Bennett | BDN

The Reverend Justin Howard preaches to his congregation in Orono on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2012. Buy Photo

By Judy Harrison, BDN Staff

Posted Feb. 24, 2012, at 2:30 p.m.

Vision, mission and values of Imago Dei Anglican Church

Vision: We envision an entire generation transformed into wholehearted lovers of God, encountered by the living Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, all within the context of a praying church, being sent out to multiply other praying churches which will contend for the transformation of our culture and the fullness of God’s kingdom in Maine, New England and the world.

Mission: In an age of deep spiritual longing, aloneness and aimlessness, our mission is to help thousands of Orono residents, UMaine students, faculty and staff find authentic life, community and wholeness in joyful communion with God, who will then give back in ministry to the world. In order to accomplish this, Imago Dei seeks to foster a community enjoying God, loving people, pursuing mercy.

Values:

• We value communion with the beautiful triune God.
• We value a culture of unrelenting prayer and passionate worship.
• We value healing relationships in community.
• We value whole-life transformation and growth.
• We value a culture of life.
• We value pioneer church planting.
• We value historical global Christianity.

Source: www.idachurch.com.

ORONO, Maine — The Rev. Justin Howard stands before his congregation on Sunday afternoons dressed in liturgical garb unfamiliar to many in his flock at Imago Dei Anglican Church.

“A lot of people have questions about this,” he said, gesturing to the white alb, the long-sleeved, ankle-length vestment he wears over his clothes to conduct services. “It’s representative of our baptism. After all, Jesus wore a tunic. The cincture, this rope around my waist, signifies that we are bound in service to Christ.

“The stole that hangs around my neck represents servanthood,” he continued earlier this month. “I wear this Celtic cross because I believe the same spiritual DNA that was part of the early Celtic church is what we are planting here in Orono.”

Underneath his traditional church garments, the Anglican priest most often is clad in sneakers and blue jeans — the same kind of clothing worn by a most of the 40-60 people, a majority of whom are students at the University of Maine, who attend weekly worship services held at the Newman Center on College Avenue.

“It’s really full of the Holy Spirit and happiness,” Bill Jenkins of Kenduskeag said earlier this month after a Sunday service. “I find it very alive here and it’s good to see so many young people in church.

Bill and, his wife, Ann Jenkins of Kenduskeag, met the Howards through Amy Howard’s father, Bill Rogers. The couple, who are are old enough to be the parents of the students with whom they worship, decided to try out the Anglican church last fall and have been attending regularly ever since.

Imago Dei, which is Latin for in the image of God, is the only church in Maine associated with the Anglican Church of North America, based in Pittsburgh, Penn. It was formed several years ago after breaking with the Episcopal Church of the United States and the Worldwide Anglican Communion over the ordination of noncelebate gay and lesbian priests and the blessing of same-sex unions.

The Orono church began meeting October 2010 at Howard’s home in Old Town. The congregation began holding services at the Newman Center, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, in November. It plans an official launch at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18.

Services at Imago Dei combine many of the traditional elements of the Anglican church, such as the reciting the Nicene Creed, the passing of the peace, making the sign of the cross and receiving Communion every Sunday, with modern praise and worship music, a time of one-on-one healing prayer and a casual but intimate feel to the two-hour service.

“We are Anglicans, so we’re liturgical but also charismatic,” Howard said in a recent interview. “We believe in the ministry of inner healing. We believe the Holy Spirit is present to make us whole people and to make us live lives that enjoy God.”

Howard was born in New York City and raised in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York attending a Wesleyan church. He met his wife, Amy Howard, at Houghton College in western New York. She grew up in the Bangor area and attended Columbia Street Baptist Church and Harvest Chapel in Levant.

His journey toward the Anglican Church began in college.

“I was a religion major and studying church history really was turning point for me,” he said. “I learned the church is more than 100 or 200 years old and uncovered and discovered a treasure trove of disciplined practice and belief I’d never been exposed to growing up. As an evangelical, I had a good solid upbringing in Scripture. [Anglicanism] offered me mystery and a relationship with 2,000 years of Christian history.”

He first was ordained a Wesleyan pastor in 2006 after attending Astbury and Gordon-Conwell theological seminaries, located in Wilmore, Ken., and South Hamilton, Mass., respectively.

He was ordained an Anglican priest in 2010.

“I’ve come full circle because John Weley was an Anglican,” he said. “Becoming an Anglican was part of my desire to be yoked to the church through history. But, I really began to encounter God through the liturgy and there was a draw on my heart to be part of a confluence of the evangelical, the charismatic and the catholic. These are the major streams in orthodox Christian worship today.”

Planting a church in a university community was the vision of Howard’s superior, Bishop William Murdock, head of the Anglican Diocese in New England, the priest said. The long-term plan calls for a parish with six churches in Greater Bangor.

Most of the people who attend services at Imago Dei have attended evangelical or mainline Protestant churches, according to Howard. As he did, they have encountered something new in the Anglican liturgy.

“What they’re finding is a God who is very near and intimate and a God who desires their wholeness and wants to be closer than they could ever imagine,” the priest said. “They are sort of shocked to find that God is as present and his power to heal is as accessible as it is. And, that God has emotions — he passionately desires them and longs for them. I think that’s a picture of God many people have a hard time believing.”

Katie Burt of Brewer began worshipping at Imago Dei in mid-January after friends encouraged her to attend.

“It’s intriguing and spirit-filled,” she said of the services. “Justin and Amy are so passionate about seeing a change in Orono.”

Scott DeLong grew up in a nondenominational evangelical church. The UMaine senior majoring in secondary education said that he found the liturgy “strange” at first.

“Now, I really appreciate the beauty of it,” she said. “The prayers are so much more beautiful and articulate than what we could come up with on our own.”

DeLong also said that attending services on Sunday afternoons focused him for his studies and work during the week.

“It just strengthens me inside and gives me hope,” he said.

Imago Dei Anglican Church worships at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Newman Center, 83 College Ave. For information, visit http://idachurch.com.

Traditional

How do you define 'traditional'? There is a spectrum of worship in Anglicanism:

1. Churches which use the Sarum Rite (Rite of Mass used before the English Reformation)
2. Churches which use the traditional (pre-Vatican II) Roman Catholic Mass (in the vernacular)
3. Churches which use the modern (post-Vatican II) Roman Catholic Mass
4. Churches which use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (possibly with outward trappings of Roman Catholicism such as vestments, incense, 6 candlesticks on or behind the altar)
5. Churches which use a liturgy from a modern prayer book based on the BCP, but with the most traditional options, and the outward trappings of Roman Catholicism mentioned in no. 4.
Note: All of the above would (most likely) have traditional hymns accompanied by an organ.
6. Churches which use a modern prayer book liturgy without the outward trappings of Roman Catholicism (priest wears cassock, surplice and stole, for example).
7. Churches which have a 'contemporary' worship service with modern music played with guitar, drums etc.

Where would you place your church? Is it down low on the list or relatively high? The church I go to is category number 5, and it is still described as an Anglo-Catholic church. If you're currently attending a category 7 church, then you would have a good reason for wanting to move. Please rate your church for us, please, so we know what you're dealing with.