There have been some questions in my parish regarding auricular confession during Lent. “Is it a sacrament?” “Is it not a sacrament?” “What is a sacrament?” and “Are we Catholics?” First, we must define what a sacrament is and isn’t. The word sacrament comes to us from the Greek word mysterion. From this word, we derive the English word mystery. So then a sacrament is a mystery. There are aspects of the sacraments that we do not quite understand, but that’s not quite all that this word means. The theological definition of mystery refers to something that had at one time been secret, but is now ..read more

A friend has wisely stated at various times: “All churches and denominations have their warts, the question is which ones are you willing to live with?” This quote has stayed with me for many years as an evangelical and an Anglican. It has stayed with me because I have found it to be true and truer than I’d like to admit.  On the surface, Anglicanism promises Catholic identity but a deeper look reveals some warts. There are some attempts to reunify, which I will briefly list below. Finally, I will suggest some things we need to do going forward. These warts render unity a bit of a challen ..read more

Article XXXVIII. Of Christian men’s Goods, which are not common. The Riches and Goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. De illicita bonorum communicatione. Facultates et bona Christianorum non sunt communia, quoad jus et possessionem (ut quidam Anabaptistæ falso jactant) debet tamen quisque de his quæ possidet, pro facultatum ratione, pauperibus eleemosynas benigne distribu ..read more

Seeking a Definition Whether times are tumultuous or calm, Christians must ask what it means to be a Christian. In tumultuous times such as these, the question certainly feels more urgent. The assertion that Christians do not have to hold to traditional moral standards is a tacit redefinition of what it means to be a Christian. Recently in the Roman Catholic church, for example, Pope Francis’ attack on the Church’s traditional moral standards has led to discussions of what Catholicism is.[1] Though not so urgent-seeming in good times—when Christians are not attacked, and their traditions opera ..read more

“These essays will be, at times, unsettling for the American Protestant reader. Defying (recent) conventional wisdom and trends, James Clark moves through wide-ranging considerations of politics and culture, including insights on everything from architecture to Thomas Aquinas to Christopher Nolan, drawing on influences from Plato to Cardinal Ratzinger to Rod Dreher. Most provocative is his interrogation of the viability of natural law arguments in our present context. Rejecting all forms of emotivism, but appealing beyond rational polemics, Clark invokes beauty as the antidote, the witness, t ..read more

In a recent Twitter/X (whatever it’s properly referred to these days) post Jeff Walton, Anglican Program Director at the Institute for Religion and Democracy, wrote: Many fail to realize that the ACNA is functionally a congregationalist denomination where the laity rarely see beyond their local parish, aside from the yearly episcopal visitation. Few are engaged at the diocesan level, and even fewer at the provincial level. Before I go any further I will note that I first met Mr. Walton more than a decade ago and have found him to be friendly – while we’re not close I count him a friend – and a ..read more

In order to discuss the thorny statement in Article XXI that general councils “may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God,” it is first necessary to establish what precisely a general council is, as well as whether and how a general council differs from an ecumenical council. In referring to councils, the terms “general” and “ecumenical” are often used synonymously, as when Browne says the First Council of Nicaea was “the first general or œcumenical council.”[1] Bishop A. P. Forbes observes to this effect, “In the strict sense of the term, General, Universal, Œcumeni ..read more

“As the Church has become less influential and respected by the dominant culture in the twenty-first century, Christian thinkers have been pondering how the Church can continue to be the light of the world. In his collection of essays, The Witness of Beauty, James Clark offers a stimulating kaleidoscope of answers to this pressing question. His three main concerns are for beauty, natural law and politics, and Anglicanism: in each of these spheres, he offers well-researched and thoughtful meditations for the good of the Church.” ~Charles Erlandson, Department Head of Church History, Cranmer Th ..read more

“We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road .” C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity *** What is Needed There are few topics in the church today that are bound to stir up more impassioned arguments than that of women and the priesthood. Undoubtedly there are good people on both sides of this debate. Surely, there is a love for Jesus and his church among those ..read more

The ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (Lk. 8:15). How we understand the meaning and goal of life The main barrier to spiritual growth is the temptation to look at life from the wrong perspective with the wrong standards of measure. The main errors of our time are to look at and assess everything in economic and consumer terms. The economic questions are, “How many?” and “How much money?” The consumer questions focus on, “Are you personally happy or satisfied?” In contrast, the Bible focuses o ..read more