Former Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, joins Catholic Church
The previous Anglican Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali has develop into a Catholic.
The announcement of his conversion was made on Thursday. He follows quite a lot of different Anglican clergy in defecting to the Catholic Church.
Explaining his resolution, the 72-year-old accused the Church of England of “leaping onto each faddish bandwagon about id politics, cultural correctness and mea culpas about Britain’s imperial previous”.
He mentioned he needed to be a part of a Church that was “the place there may be clear educating for the trustworthy”.
Nazir-Ali was born in Pakistan however fled to the UK to flee persecution. He was Bishop of Rochester from 1994 to 2009, throughout which era he was outspoken about non secular freedom and upheld a standard view of Christianity on social points like marriage and sexuality.
He is among the highest profile figures in Anglicanism to transform to the Catholic fold, having been a significant determine in Anglican evangelicalism and instrumental within the creation of orthodox Anglican physique, Gafcon.
The change has been made after Pope Benedict XVI created the Catholic Ordinariate 10 years in the past to welcome in former Anglican clergy who’ve develop into disillusioned with the Church of England.
“I imagine that the Anglican want to stick to apostolic, patristic and conciliar educating can now greatest be maintained within the Ordinariate,” he mentioned.
“Provisions there to safeguard reputable Anglican patrimony are very encouraging and, I imagine, that such patrimony in its Liturgy, approaches to biblical research, pastoral dedication to the neighborhood, strategies of ethical theology and far else moreover has a terrific deal to supply the broader Church.
“I’m trying ahead to receiving from the riches of different elements of the Church, whereas maybe making a modest contribution to the upkeep and enhancement of Anglican patrimony throughout the wider fellowship.
“Ministry within the Church of Pakistan, within the Center East usually, within the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion stays valuable to me and I see this as an additional step within the ministry of our frequent Lord and of his folks. Presently, I ask for prayers as I proceed to wish for all elements of the Church.”