When was the proposal made to transfer The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to the Roman Catholic Church?

• “At 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2008 in the Catholic Center of the Diocese of Fort Worth, four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth made the following presentation to the Most Reverend Kevin Vann.”

Is there a conflict between what these priests said in their document and what they say now?

“Monday, June 16, 2008”

• “We believe the Anglican Communion shares the fatal flaws of The Episcopal Church”

• “…it is apparent that the Archbishop of Canterbury is incapable of providing decisive leadership.”

• “…we have concluded that the difficulties we have faced in The Episcopal Church for the past thirty years will not be remedied by the Anglican Communion.

  “Date: August 16, 2008”

• “We remain fully committed to the goal of this Diocese, as plainly stated by Bishop Iker, to realign with an Orthodox Anglican Province.”

Can a statement be made to reconcile what these priests want the diocese to do and what they find expedient on a temporary basis?

• “We have chosen to join the Province of the Southern Cone in South America. We believe this arrangement is temporary. As the Anglican Communion attempts to reform itself, it is becoming more and more evident that this problematic at best.”

Are there any statements in the document that might offend a church like Saint Andrews, proud of its “low church” tradition?

• “The Protestant/Low Church teachings, the Liberals experiential teachings are just not true. The Catholic faith, the Catholic practice, the Catholic teaching - is true.”

What was the proposal?

“PROPOSAL

• We request that the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth provide the guidance necessary so that we might "make a proposal" that would lead our Diocese into full communion with the See of Peter.”

What are the evidences that this proposal is calling for more than mere closer ties with the Vatican, as an expression of greater unity – that the diocese might submit to Roman Authority?

• “We believe the See of Peter is essential not optional.”

• “We believe a magisterium is needed desperately”

• “…it is apparent that the Archbishop of Canterbury is incapable of providing decisive leadership. If there is a future, particularly for Catholic minded Anglicans, it is clear that a magisterium is absolutely essential.

• “…it is up to us to make the initiative to return to the rock from whence we were hewn.”

• “the Catholic Faith is not just one option among many…”

• “The Protestant/Low Church teachings, the Liberals experiential teachings are just not true. The Catholic faith, the Catholic practice, the Catholic teaching - is true.”

• “We believe that it is now time for a new Season. It is perhaps, time for a church of Reformation to die and a new unification among Christ's people be born: Unification possible only under the Holy Father.”

• “Bernard Cardinal Law at his residence in Rome… told us that it was inappropriate for the Catholic Church to make an offer to another Christian body, such as ours, in distress. Rather, such an offer needed to come from us.”

• “The overwhelming majority of clergy currently active in the Diocese of Fort Worth are willing to work earnestly for what we consider to be the only solution, and that is full communion with the Holy See.”

• “We believe the Catholic Faith is True”

Was that Catholic or catholic?

• “We believe the Catholic Faith is true”

Just who were these four priests of the diocese?

“The clergy making this presentation are:

• The Reverend Canon Charles A. Hough, III, SSC Canon to Bishop Iker for 15 years

• The Very Reverend William A. Crary, Jr., SSC, Dean of the Eastern Deanery, and is the senior rector in the Diocese

• The Reverend Louis L. Tobola, Jr., SSC, has served as Dean of the Cathedral and Dean of the Eastern Deanery.

• The Very Reverend Christopher C. Stainbrook, SSC, Vicar of St. Timothy's since 1994, is Finance Committee Chair, Diocesan Historiographer, Dean of the Fort Worth East Deanery, and Special Liaison to the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth."

What are the evidences that these priests do not want to remain in the Anglican Communion?

• “We believe the Anglican Communion shares the fatal flaws of The Episcopal Church”

• “…it is apparent that the Archbishop of Canterbury is incapable of providing decisive leadership.”

• “…we have concluded that the difficulties we have faced in The Episcopal Church for the past thirty years will not be remedied by the Anglican Communion."

Do these priest think that other priests in the diocese are willing to join them?

• “We have a critical mass of clergy who are willing to bring the laity to support this proposal.”

• “Our best guess is that approximately 59 clergy are willing to pursue an active plan to bring the Diocese of Fort Worth or a significant portion of it into full communion with the Holy See, if this be God's will.”

How do they think the laity will react?

• “We also recognize that it will take time to bring the laity on board with this proposal. While the clergy have come to recognize the truth which it held by the Holy See, we have much work to do with the laity.”

Did Bishop Iker know about this secret proposal?

• “Bishop Iker endorsed our report and gave us his "unequivocal support" to proceed with a presentation to Bishop Vann."

• "Furthermore, in April, 2006 the four priests making this presentation, with our Bishop and two other priests of our Diocese, met with Bernard Cardinal Law at his residence in Rome. At that meeting we discussed our plight with him. Cardinal Law told us two important things. With regard to union with Rome he said, 'What was not possible twenty years ago may be possible today.' And, with regard to our moving forward he said, 'Make us an offer'. He told us that it was inappropriate for the Catholic Church to make an offer to another Christian body, such as ours, in distress. Rather, such an offer needed to come from us."