CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1933, Page 6

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

DISTURBING INFLUENCES

ECCLESIASTICAL LAW IS DISASTROUS.

LONDON, February 14

Tile belief of many Anglicans that the position o,f ecclessiastical 7aw is disastrous and discreditable has been reflected in n-cent discussions in the ■Church Assembly, says the N e ws Chronicle.

The Stiff key case, . which cost £BOOO, protracted disputes between Anglo. Catholics and the Bishop of Birmingham, troubles regarding illegal ornaments and disputed teaching, are dismaying churchmen, owing to the Church apparently not being able to maintain reasonable authority.

The Roman Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches would not to,'.prate such chaos, gays the paper. None is immune from indiscipline, immorality, or neglect of pastoral duty. However, that their rules arc sufficiently elastic and practical to deal with cases without scandal or offene (J was emphasised by the Bishop of Birmingham when he declared that nothing had been more harmful to the Church’s ireput.'tion VJuring ffie ftasfe '2O years than two notorious cases which had created an erroneous belief that there was immorality among Anglican clergy, unparalleled in other religions. I'Rhe N p ws Chronicle recalls that the Archbishop of Canterbury's Corn minion in 1926 produced an excel lent- scheme Bor .tV iveform of ecclesiastical law, but the feeders, frightened of Parliament's powers after the defeat o| the Prayer Book reform plan, dropp'd tlm ineasurps, reconsideration of which is essential if the Church is ,dcsivOus o,f avoid : ng i resembl; , ' , .’ce. to n bundle of discordant' (dements struggling for 'freedom.