Curious Ordination Stats...

There is always a tradition of vagantes being accused of not being well trained prior to ordination. This is, unfortunately, true in many cases and some clergy are woefully unprepared. However, this isn't just an ISM phenomenon. Modern seminary education is relatively new in the life of the church (about 500 years) and prior to that there was a great deal of mentoring, on the job training, etc. We remember that many lay people and even clergy were illiterate for much of the Church's history, so stories were told through icons, stained glass, plays, etc.

Below are some interesting statistics I compiled. This list is not to justify anything except to play "devil's advocate." I compiled it in 2006 when a traditionalist Roman Catholic bishop was being chastised for being too young at 29 for consecration. The point: people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!

Young Priests:

• Costantino Cardinal Patrizi Naro, ordained a priest at age 20. ¹¹
• Pope Gregory XVI, ordained a priest at age 21. ³¹
• Carlo Cardinal Confalonieri, ordained a priest at age 22. ¹⁰
• Helder Camara, ordained a priest at age 22. ¹
• St. Pio, ordained a priest at age 22. ²
• Fr. Basil Moreau, ordained a priest at age 22. ³
• Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragán, ordained a priest at age 22. ⁴
• Bishop Antonio Rosario Mennonna, ordained a priest at age 22. ⁹
• Carlo Cardinal Confalonieri, ordained a priest at age 22. ¹⁰

Really Young Bishops:

• Pope Julius II, appointed bishop at 18.2. ²⁸
• Raffaele Cardinal Sansone Riario, appointed apostolic administrator at age 19.6. ²⁹
• Saint Valentine, ordained a bishop at age 20. ⁸
• Pope Eugene IV, appointed a bishop at age 20. ³³
• Pope Gregory XIV, appointed a bishop at age 24.9 ²⁵
• Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi, ordained a bishop at age 25.5. ¹⁹
• Pope Julius III, appointed bishop at age 25.5. ²⁷
• Pope Benedict XIII, ordained a bishop at age 26. ¹⁵
• Pope Alexander VI, appointed bishop at 26.5. ³⁰
• Luigi Cardinal Caetani, ordained a bishop at 26.9.
• Archbishop Eugène-Jean-Claude-Joseph Desflèches, M.E.P., appointed bishop at 28.3. ¹⁴
• Archbishop François de Pierre de Bernis, ordained a bishop at age 29.1. ²⁰

Short-Term Priests:

• Pope Martin V, a priest for 1 day. ³²
• Pope Urban VII, a priest for 4 days. ²⁶
• Francesco Scipione Maria Cardinal Borghese, a priest for 1 month. ¹⁷
• Luigi Cardinal Valenti Gonzaga, a priest for 1 month. ²¹
• Pope Alexander VII, appointed after 1 month as priest. ²³
• Bernardino Cardinal Gurard, a priest for one month. 34
• Giovanni Francesco Albani, a priest 3 months. ²³
• Giovanni Battista Cardinal Caprara Montecuccoli, a priest for 9 months. ²²
• Giulio Maria Cardinal della Somaglia, a priest for 1 year and 6 months.  ¹²
• Marcantonio Cardinal Colonna , a priest for 1 year and 2 months. ¹³
• Giuseppe Cardinal Accoramboni, a priest for 2 years and 8 months. ¹⁶

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1.         “'Red bishop' dies at 90.” Western Catholic Reporter. Accessed February 15, 2006 from URL: http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/1999/0906/archbishopheldercamara090699.shtml.

2.         “Padre Pio.” Biographies. Accessed February 15, 2006 from URL: http://www.discountcatholicstore.com/biographies.htm.

3.         “The Story of Basil Anthony Marie Moreau.” Marianites Website. Acessed February 15, 2006 from URL:  http://www.marianites.org/new/The%20Story%20of%20Basil%20Moreau%20-%20English.htm.

4.         “Three Future Cardinals for Latin America.” Church News. Accessed February 15, 2006 from URL: http://www.eclesiales.org/english/archive/0310-1.htm.

5.         “Bishop of East Anglia.” Diocese of East Anglia. Accessed February 15, 2006 from URL: http://www.catholiceastanglia.org/bishop/index.php?module=article&view=3&page_num=2.

6.         Canon Law: A Text and Commentary. (1946). Bouscaren S.J., T. Lincoln and Adam C. Ellis, S.J. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company. Pp. 368. 

7.         Code of Canon Law (1983). Vatican City Website. Accessed February 15, 2006 from URL: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P1.HTM.

8.         “Forgotten man – Valentine’s Day originated from wise, caring bishop.” (2006) Caldwell, Simon. Accessed February 15, 2006 from: http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=18661.

9.         “Bishop Antonio Rosario Mennonna.” Catholic Hierarchy. Accessed February 15, 2006 from: http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmennonna.html.

10.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bconf.html.

11.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpatn.html.

12.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdeso.html

13.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcolo.html

14.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdesf.html

15.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/borsini.html

16.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bacco.html

17.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bborg.html

18.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcaet.html

19.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bludo.html

20.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbernis.html

21.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bvalgo.html

22.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcaprm.html

23.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/balbani.html

24.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bchigi.html

25.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsfon.html

26.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcastag.html

27.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bciocc.html

28.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brov.html

29.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsari.html

30.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdeborjar.html

31.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcapb.html

32.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcolonna.html

33.        Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcondu.html

34.       Ibid. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgirab.html

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Tim 4:12.

Solo Consecrations

There is much discussion about the essential requirements for the consecration of a bishop. Traditionally, there has been the Roman Catholic doctrine of matter, form, and intent. This essentially says that one must intend to do what the Church does using the laying on of hands and the consecratory preface. While these scholastic terms are the legal requirements for Roman Catholics, they also are the general requirements for all other churches within the apostolic succession.

There is frequent discussion about the solo consecration of a bishop by another bishop. Generally, the desirable thing is to have two or three bishops together consecrating a new bishop. This ensures that (1) the consecration is valid if the principal consecrator lacks valid orders and (2) the collegiality of the neighboring churches gathered around the Eucharist. Indeed, there are ancient texts that speak to the necessity of having multiple bishops participate in consecrations:

Canon 13 of the Council of Carthage: That a bishop should not be ordained except by many bishops, but if there should be necessity he may be ordained by three.

Canon 1 of the Apostolic Canons: Let a bishop be ordained by two or three bishops. 

Yet, this practice is not always followed. There are points when it could not be followed because of persecution, inability to secure another bishop, etc. Below are some interesting historical precedents that point to places in history that prove that one is still valid when consecrated solo. Included are Old Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox examples of solo consecrations which were (often) conducted even in secret.

• Bishop Dominique Marie Varlet, beginning in 1724, consecrated Steenoven, Barchman, van der Croon, and Meindartz.
• Bishop Josaph (Bolotav), the first Russian Orthodox Bishop of Alaska, was consecrated in 1799 by Bishop Benjamin of Irkutsk upon orders from the Holy Synod to perform that consecration alone.
• Bishop Michel d'Herbigny (pictured), beginning in 1926, consecrated Pie Neveu, Aleksander Frison, Boleslavs Sloskans, and Antonio Malecki solo.
• Bishop Matthew (Karpathakis) of Bresthena consecrated the bishops of the Greek Old-Calendarist Church solo in 1940.
• Bishop Barnabas of Cannes of ROCOR consecrated Lazarus of Tambov solo in 1982.

There are also numerous examples of solo consecrations by Bishops Thuc, Alfredo Gonzalez, etc. This list is just to provide a few examples of solo consecrations.

Utrecht and America: A Love/Hate Relationship (minus the love)...

Utrecht has never been fond of its bald-headed stepchild church in America.To recap the history: Father Renee Vilatte went to Switzerland to be ordained a deacon and priest by Bishop Herzog of the Swiss Christian Catholic Church. All accounts say that Bishop Herzog was not a particularly pleasant man and the relationship didn't last long. Renee then completely alienated his Episcopalian host Bishop Grafton and Bishop Herzog by being consecrated by Archbishop Alvarez of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

Little is mentioned of our second Utrecht transplant--Bishop Anthony Kozlowski. He was consecrated in 1897 by Herzog, Gul, and Weber in Bern. He continued pretty successfully until his death in 1907. At this point his remaining parishes were mostly incorporated into the PNCC.

Then there is Bishop Hodur who was consecrated in 1907 by Gul, et al. in Utrecht. This relationship lasted until 2003 when the relationship between the two became unstable. Utrecht began ordaining women and non-celibate gay clergy which angered the PNCC. The PNCC had begun a gradual shift towards conservatism with its subsequent leadership and with an influx of married former Roman Catholic priests. This is in spite of the progressive tradition of Bishop Hodur who declared the Word of God a sacrament, preached universalism, and wrote his own liturgy. The PNCC had, for years, been participating in ECUSA consecrations until the ordination of women.

Arnold Harris Mathew was, of course, consecrated in 1908 by Gul, etc. in Utrecht and he sent Rudolph de Landes-Berghes over to America. Rudolph found success with ECUSA high society and even participated in the consecration of the Bishop of Cuba, Hiram Hulse, in 1915. This relationship was to be short lived, however. Anyone who had anything to do with Mathew has been almost anathema for years with the Old Catholics. A Swiss Old Catholic priest, Christoph Schuler, even wrote his dissertation for a Master of Theology degree on "The Mathew Affair" in 1994. In the publication he lists multiple reasons that, according to Old Catholics, made Mathew's lineage invalid.

Fast forward to the 1980's, when Father Donald Currie was sent by the Council of Independent Catholic Bishops to visit Utrecht. He was even successful in meeting with Archbishop Glazemaker and forming a friendship with him. However, Father Currie was killed in 1990 and the Council of Independent Catholic Bishops (made up of primarily Old Roman Catholic prelates) would not ascent to women and openly-gay priests. The purpose of these meetings was more fraternal than intentionally unifying.

In 2005, the Old Catholic Church of British Columbia became an "affiliate partner" with the Union of Utrecht per their translation of a Dutch publication. The Google translator uses the words "aspiring member of the Union." Regardless of the extent of their relationship, it was short lived. The Old Catholic Church of British Columbia now says: "Later he was invited to attend as a member the International Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Wislikofen, Switzerland, from 4-8 February 2007, accompanied by Fr. Claude Lacroix, as our representative of Québec. Due to difference of opinion at that conference, we are no longer part of the said Union."

In 2006, the Conference of North American Old Catholic Bishops got together with Bishop Mike Klusmeyer of ECUSA. Joining them were Old Catholic priests Dr. Esser and Fr. Marcussen (serving in ECUSA). Present were Bishops Peter Paul Brennan, Chuck Leigh, Robert Fuentes, and Peter Hickman. Since that time, Fuentes has formed The Old Catholic Church, Province of the United States with several other bishops. Hickman continues to lead the Ecumenical Catholic Communion and Leigh continues to lead the Apostolic Catholic Church. Brennan continues to minister for Married Priests and the Order of Corporate Reunion. No new news has been reported.

There have been, at various times, European Old Catholic ordained or currently affiliated priests that have visited American Old Catholic communities. But their presence is always an unofficial one of testing out the waters. This leaves the age old question "How do you solve a problem like American Old Catholics...?" (For those not familiar with the play on words, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1HwVmY28Pk)

The Future of the ISM...

Various divines think that they know the future of the Independent Sacramental Movement. The truth is, though, that none of us really know the truth. You have various people on one side saying that there should be no structure--that the ISM should continue as a loose knit group of clergy who, like Johnny Appleseed, are spreading their Orders and Grace throughout the universe. Then there are those on the other side who think that we should create little mini-Roman Churches complete with our own "accredited" seminaries, titles, and trappings expected of a "respectable" denomination.

Me? I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't think that it is realistic to have a completely independent model. There are too many liabilities both legal and ethical to have absolutely no accountability. However, this doesn't mean that I think the word "vagante" is a bad one. After all, wasn't Jesus a vagante or itinerant rabbi?

On the other side I don't think that completely replicating larger denominations is a fantastic idea. Some possible rationales for wanting to create an established jurisdiction:

• Recognition by the Union of Utrecht. This will never, ever happen. Why do Old Catholics in America delude themselves in thinking so? Why would the Old Catholic Churches of Europe, which are dwindling in number, risk their relationship with the 2 million member Episcopal Church of the US? The Episcopal Church is our national church in America, for better or worse. Some will argue that there was the PNCC, but that was more of a historical abnormality--formed before the Bonn Agreement. And Savonarola still isn't accredited!
• Replication of Rome. Some folks are upset because they could not be Roman Catholic priests. Maybe they're gay, or a woman, or divorced and remarried, etc. However, if you join the ISM you have to realize that the RC ship has sailed. You can join the long line of dissenters that will go nowhere--be they the almost dead Continuing Anglicans or the going-nowhere Roman Catholic Women Priests. Movements that are founded purely out of objection tend to not last more than a generation. True, there are rare examples like the Old Believers. That takes an almost Siberian stubbornness, though. 

Somewhere in the middle is ok with me. Not lawlessness but not so rigid that the Spirit is not allowed to move. Without that movement there would be no women clergy, gay clergy, etc. This may horrify some but is celebrated by others. Regardless of your belief on these issues, they happened. That's the beauty of small jurisdictions--each person can find a place that fits their sympathies and personality well.

That's not to say that our clergy and laity should not be well informed. But, maybe the 3 year M.Div. model is not well suited to the ISM. And maybe we do have a bit more bishops than needed, but then again why does Rome need the Secretary of the Papal Laundry to be a bishop? Maybe we won't all become stipendiary parish clergy, but look at the complacency that has developed in other traditions.

Let us mentor one another, encourage one another, and fellowship together.

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

The One, True Church...

One of the most frustrating things in Christianity is the perception of the "One, True Church"TM. I'm almost certain some one's trademarked that phrase given how many people claim to be the true faith. Any student of church history realizes the excessive amount of politics, egos, and posturing that goes into the various schisms and breaks throughout Christianity. Each church then claims to be the true church, the on that is the only successor. True, I think the Church Catholic is the proper church, but I likely lump many, many more traditions and people into that category than my exclusionary brethren.

Equally repugnant is when a person joins a new church and presents the image that he/she has now joined the One, True Church. This often follows with proclamations that the previous church in which they served is invalid, worthless, etc. That is unfair to the People of God who received the sacraments from that person or depended upon them for their spiritual well being. One cannot erase their history, and I think it is important to emphasize that a change in denomination is a personal journey. It does not nullify all the actions of the past and it is certainly not desirable to vilify the previous group to which one belonged. Yet, this has happened all too often when Anglicans become Catholics, or Catholics become Orthodox, or Orthodox become Catholics, etc., etc., etc. We shift and grow throughout our faith life and sometimes we come to the realization that we are no longer called to our current tradition. Let us, then, depart as friends without bitterness and anger.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. - Proverbs 29:1.

Patriarchs, and Metropolitans, and Cardinals, Oh My!

There is one thing that members of the Independent Sacramental Movement do well--create titles. It is amazing to see the plethora of titles and offices that members of the ISM have created. Equally amazing are the number of doctorates these same people have awarded themselves!

While this is amazingly entertaining, it's also a bit unfortunate. Don't get me wrong--I admire anyone who has the guts to parade around on the internet in a mismatched outfit and call themselves Patriarch! But, is it really warranted? Sure, there are leaders of historic churches who use such grandiose titles. Perhaps they should refrain from doing so as well. After all, who is really "all holy?" But when your See survives 2,000 years of invasions, persecutions, etc. perhaps you get to call yourself whatever you want. I don't see many ISM folks whose jurisdictions will last that long.

The most beautiful and most poignant name one can use are the terms "Father" or "Mother". They encompass so very much. The priest has been entrusted with the most sacred gift imaginable--the gift of spiritual guidance. To have a spiritual father and to trust someone with your spiritual well being is a very lofty, important decision. It's not an easy thing to do and we clergy certainly haven't made it any easier. Our behaviors, narcissism, and downright craziness have given people legitimate reasons to be skeptical.

In fact, it is not uncommon for some traditions to have a seperate name for their own priest as opposed to other priests in different villages or visitors. This cements the sacred relationship between the people and their priest. Traditionalists and others demand that each priest is properly called "Father Doe" or "Father Joe," but perhaps it is truly significant to earn that name. For instance, I am fortunate to have many clergy friends. While we address each other by our first names, I will still infrequently call them "Father" to remind them of my admiration and respect for their office but, more importantly, for their character.

So, titles are something of weight and importance. To throw around exalted names and positions is colorful. But, if one seeks to earn admiration and love for Christ perhaps something more simple is appropriate. 

"A certain ruler asked Him, 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus replied, "'Why do you call me good?'