Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Fr Hunwicke's reflections upon Archbishop Lefebvre


On his Mutual Enrichment blog my friend Fr Hunwicke has been posting his reflections upon key passages in Archbishop Lefebvre's book They have Uncrowned Him following on from his reading of the Archbishop's reasons for his rejection of so much of what the Second Vatican Council did, or what was done in its name in subsequent years.

His first four posts can be read at "They have uncrowned Him" (1) which is an introduction,"They have uncrowned Him" (2) False Religions?. which is also rather general in its concerns, "They have uncrowned Him" (3) which begins a more detailed approach to the issues of freedom of religion, and
"They have uncrowned Him" (4) which considers further aspects of this question. The most recent is on the key question for many SSPX members and sympathizers, the interpretation and indeed purpose of Dignitatis humanae, and it can be read at "They have uncrowned Him" (5).

In these pieces Fr Hunwicke is not going Lefebvrist and neither is he attacking the Archbishop. What he is seeking to do is understand what Archbishop Marcel said - and why he said it - and seeking to show that there is perhaps more common ground with others than is often thought, or that the Conciliar statements allow of a breadth of interpretation that can be seen as enabling co-existence in communion. As always, a useful and helpful series from Fr John.



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