Bishop's wife converts
The wife of a Church of Ireland bishop . Bishop Richard Henderson's wife Anita was received into the Catholic Church by the Bishop of Killala, Dr John Fleming, at a private ceremony last weekend. I've just spoken with Dr Henderson on the phone. Understandably, he and his wife regard this as a personal matter and they are not doing interviews with the press. (Though they appear to have .) Alan Harper, the Archbishop of Armagh, : he simply emphasises that he believes in freedom of religion. The Primate also notes that this personal matter may produce some "awkwardness". Perhaps he has in mind the fact that some commentators have explained some of the Church of Ireland's demographic decline in recent years (at least in part) in terms of inter-marriage?
Update: In reply to some commenters who have questioned the appropriateness of reporting this story, it's worth noting that the story was made public on Monday by the Church of Ireland in a by Bishop Henderson and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill. This story has been widely reported locally and across and Ireland, and by both and Anglican news services.
Comments
Where is the story here?
Is the Bishop's wife some form of property?
Regards,
Michael
I question the appropriateness of running this story. Since when has association by marriage to someone who is in the public eye (and this is questionable when referring to the good bishop of Tuam) meant the denial of a private life. This is a non-story.
For goodness sake, why don't Tony Blair, Steve Chalke, Anita Fleming, etc just jack in theism altogether and become atheists like any sensible person? What's the point in switching *flavours* of mumbo jumbo? It's *all* crap!
;-)
-A
[That's it - I'm going to be a good girl now]
Do not be unequally yoked
I dont understand why the press shouldnt report this ... if tony blair becomes a catholic they should report that too. he's a public figure and the consitution of the uk has things to say about catholicism. As for the wife of a bishop, a lot of church of ireland members will be interested to know that this has happened and mrs henderson has had roles to play within her diocese as the wife of her bishop husband. is she going to now retire from those "ex officio" roles?
To the person who wrote "Do not be unequally yoked" ...
1 - Are you suggesting that this couple should divorce because one partner is now Catholic?
2 - Can't you accept that both partners are still Christian?
Should be interesting conversations in that house. I presume she accepts the Catholic teaching expressed in Apostolica Curae that her husband's orders are null and void as far as the Catholic Church is concerned.
Am I missing something here? OF COURSE the media should report that the wife of a Protestant bishop has converted to catholicism. Anita Henderson has now joined a church that does not recognise that her own husband is even a priest in a full church! I am neither anglican nor catholic, but that seems to me an interesting turn of affairs!
Umm, free press? Good God.
We all need a spiritual home. this lady has found hers. Who her husband is of no consequence.
KP
This conversion needs to be seen in the context of the general Romeward drift that exists in the 3 "main" Protestant churches .
In truth a substantial number within the PCI , CofI , and MCI would welcome ecclesiastical union with Rome and are working towards that goal .
After all the raison d'etre of the ecumenical movement is a reunited Christendom under the leadership of the Pope .
www.theevangelists.blogspot.com
This is a let down to her husband and the small Anglican community in the West. Surely she could study and experience Catholicism without this public statement and embarrassment to her husband,who probably had to go along with it to save his marriage.Poor guy