A blog exists titled 'LMS Chairman' & a recent article is entitled "To understand ISIS,look at Anglicanism". The blog can be viewed as the blog of the Latin Mass Society although, to be fair, Dr Joseph Shaw (Chairman of LMS) does try to distance his personal remarks from those of the Society. But who reads the disclaimer? Please read the blog & you will note that a number of people have taken issue with the article which, in my opinion, is unhelpful & being less that charitable is downright rude to Anglicans. Please read the blog & form your own opinion
The diatribe of Dr Shaw has damaged the good name of LMS. He should resign.
ReplyDeleteThe Blogg by Dr Shaw today is a caustic attack on Mgr Basil Loftus. If Dr Shaw continues these Bloggs and members of LMS feel they should dissociate themselves from his views then he cannot continue as Chairman of the LMS.
ReplyDeleteHow right you are Dicens (imho). Regrettably, even though he has a disclaimer that the contents of his blog are his 'personal' comments & not attributable to the LMS, I wonder how many read the disclaimer &, if not, accept Dr Shaw's blog as attributable. I have suggested that his blog title be changed to show no link whatever with the feelings of, I hope, the vast majority of LMS members.
ReplyDeleteI have stated that if his comments are supported by the LMS, whose aims as I understand them I fully support as a Local Rep with my wife, then I would find it impossible to continue as a member.
I should have added that we must pursue POSITIVELY the aims of the LMS & not allow ourselves to simply deride the beliefs of others. Whilst, as a Catholic, I totally accept that the Catholic Church is the one SURE means of heaven I do not think we dare pre-judge the enormous charity of God who may decide that others might join us - or is heaven only for Catholics. Some outside the Church may (for reasons unknown to us BUT NOT TO GOD) decide that they cannot accept the teachings of the Church. Indeed some 'Catholics' (including I am sure some priests) do not accept the full teaching of the Church when they propose women priests, abortion, contraception, divorce etc, etc
ReplyDeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteYour observations are to be highly commended. There are several LMS members and friends who are unhappy with the direction that Dr Shaw's Bloggs are taking and it is very difficult to dissociate his views from those of the Society. He should change the title of his Blogg because whatever he might say in his disclaimer he is riding on the card of the LMS and many are unhappy about this. Any President or Chairman of a Society or Association has to be very careful not to involve the Society/Association when expressing personal opinions. Dr Shaw is failing in this respect. You are a credit to the Association for having seen this.
Dr Shaw's "response" shows that he has not understood that his Blog can give the impression that he is speaking as LMS chairman despite his disclaimer. The response might be described by some as arrogant..
ReplyDeleteAnyone who publishes on an organisations website must realise that to the vast majority of people will see it as the organisations view, just as one would never write their personal view on company letterhead unless the wanted to lose their job.
ReplyDeleteDr Shaw’s rantings are becoming increasingly aggressive, like a man deranged and he seems to be treating the LMS like a personal fiefdom and the great majority of members will be embarrassed and wish to dissociate themselves from them.
Those who are wary of the 'trads' then they would say this is just the sort of bigoted pontifications they suspected all such people hold and would therefore associate it with the movement itself.
Let him go and he and the good Mgr can have their spats out of the public gaze.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteYou have expressed lucidly and succinctly the view of several members and friends of LMS. An 82 year old member of LMS was not pleased when Dr Shaw's latest we're read out and expressed the same sentiments as in your last paragraph.
Thank you Dicens, I note he has been quiet today, perhaps and hopefully he realises he has gone to far. We must always respect those of other faiths and none, and pray for them if we feel that we should.
ReplyDeleteHowever as Catholics we should always respect our ordained ministers, even when we don't always agree with them. They have accepted God's calling and surely should they need any rebuke then it is for their Bishop and no one else to address the issue. We as lay folk also have the option to write to a Bishop, but we should never disrespect a priest!
Look at Dr Shaw's lengthy attack on Mgr Loftus in his most recent Blog. Why does he have to enter into controversy under the LMS flag. One has to ask is this going to get worse. Someone said he is heading towards becoming the "Bishop Williamson" of the LMS. If Dr Shaw wants to be provocative and critical then let him as the Hexham Newcastle Representative do it on a Blog whose title does not include "LMS". The LMS should dedicate itself to what are laid down as its aims, having its chairman involved in polemic despite disclaimer is not helpful.
ReplyDelete