NCR discusses vagantes as —˜alternatives’
A writer for the National Catholic Reporter is attempting to understand vagantes —“ good luck.
Tom Carney has two articles in the current issue. You have to be a subscriber to see —National Catholic church among array of alternatives on left and right— (and no, I won’t subscribe). However his article: Spiritual storm leads priest away from church, back again is available in the on-line archives.
Here are a few excerpts:
It took an emotional and spiritual tempest to lead Fr. Ray McHenry away from the church that had nurtured him and to which he had always been loyal, and an equally turbulent squall to bring him back.
—It was the perfect storm,— said McHenry about the mix of emotions and circumstances that led him to leave the Roman Catholic church [sic] last year. He has now returned — for the same reasons he left.
His story is of a faith journey that included elation with the priesthood, disillusion with an assignment, involvement in a romantic relationship, disenchantment with the church, experimentation with a schismatic church, ending the romantic relationship, and ultimate reunion with the church of his birth.
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Having entered the seminary at age 44, McHenry was ordained a priest in 2000 for the Des Moines, Iowa, diocese. He left the church three years later to join the left-leaning National Catholic Church of America only to return to the Des Moines diocese after less than a year.
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… McHenry began to have second thoughts about the church and priesthood. The clergy abuse issue was full-blown, —and there were lots of unhappy Catholics, lots of negativity.—
McHenry wanted to remain a priest, but began looking for an alternative to the church he grew up in, looking especially at —schismatic— Catholic churches. He decided to look into the National Catholic Church of America, established in 1998, with headquarters in Albany, N.Y.
—They have the seven sacraments and apostolic succession,— he said. —It was all there.—
McHenry believed he was OK with the National Catholic church’s theology and practice, including ordination for women, married people and gays, and approval of second and third marriages and family planning. He believed that the National Catholic church was where the Roman Catholic church might be if the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) had been allowed to progress.
He took a leave of absence from the diocese, and after a time left it altogether. He began holding Mass for a group of Council Bluffs dissidents, at first in homes, then in space loaned by a Presbyterian church.
He spoke on the phone a couple of times with the National Catholic Church of America’s primate, Archbishop Richard Roy.
—He was personable,— said McHenry. —I liked what I heard.—
So when he and his female friend traveled to Albany to meet with Roy, he could offer a community in Council Bluffs — though only 15 or 20 members strong — willing to join him as new communicants. McHenry and his friend attended Roy’s Masses and met with National Catholic church members in Albany and Philadelphia.
But his new church was less structured than he expected. It was —Roy and a couple of other priests,— he said. And he saw that in Council Bluffs, he and his congregation would be —out here by ourselves.—
On the return trip, McHenry began asking himself questions. —Is it really a church?— —Is it going to hold together?— And the big question, —Have I done the right thing?—
Fr. McHenry probably should have asked some questions and done some research before he began. Switching churches based on a telephone call is not the way to go. Would you buy a house based on a few calls?
I would imagine that a call to the PNCC and some time in the PNCC seminary would have helped him think this through —“ and the PNCC will not accept anyone without a review, and a period of formation in the seminary.
When Fr. McHenry saw the reality of the National Catholic Church (a bishop and his boyfriend and whatever temporary quarters they can obtain for use as their church), the reality hit home.
To give you a sense, this from the NCC site:
Archbishop Roy … serves as Pastor of Holy Trinity National Catholic Church in Albany, NY, where he makes his home with Brother Stephen K. Peterson, OSJD, his partner since 1975.
Fr. McHenry had the right instincts; he may very well be called to the priesthood and to married life (in a husband-wife relationship). He will not be able to bury that forever, and the damage that burying those instincts does, where no charism of celibacy is given, is evident in so many damaged men.
By-the-way, the NCR must be loosing it if they see churches like these as ‘alternatives’ to the Holy Catholic Faith. I mean their liberal agenda is well know … but vagantes?
It is the National Catholic Church of America that aggrivates me the most out of all the indy vagante churches. Why? Because there are several parishes within the PNCC that refer to themselves as National Catholic Churches. I fear that people will get the two confused. Unfortunately, I still feel the PNCC is viewed as one of these churches by many. We need to get the PNCC in the mainstream and let the country we know our Church is truly Catholic, Apostolic, and not a joke.
I’ve had the same discussion in my home parish – here in Albany. Some want to refer to the parish as BVMC – National Catholic Church.
My point was, Look at what’s down the road, is this what you want people to think of?
We settled on always referring to the parish as BVMC, National Catholic Church, PNCC.
It is really a truth in advertising thing.
As to the point of what people think, I’m not too worried.
The vagantes are the ones that go on and on about their catholicity and their apostolic succession, and oh, how catholic they are.
If a church believes these things, as the R.C., Orthodox, and PNCC Churches do, then they don’t have to make a point of it. We simply believe. Teaching these things is part of the catechetical process for new converts and for children.
Getting the word out is important, actually vital – but the point, in my opinion, is that it is more vital that we get the word out about Jesus and the path to God.
If we teach Bishop Hodur’s basic messages of faith, regeneration, a living community, and the power of the Word and the Eucharist, then we’re doing our job.
The most effective evangelization I’ve seen is the one-on-one kind, come with me this Sunday, I’ll drive, come and see.
You and I, and a lot of our parishes are doing some great web evangelization. I’d like to see more PNCC members, especially our youth doing blogs.
In addition, the more we emphasize programs for youth and families (brings and retains families) and for seniors (a safe welcoming place that meets their needs), the better off we will be.
Just my two cents after two bottles of wine, a beer, and more turkey than you can imagine…
Not the first time NCRish types have looked to vagantes: there was that popular pastor in Rochester who when he was sacked took his congregation and went nominally under one. And of course there were the recent ordinations aboard riverboats.
Wrote recently about this phenom here.