This is really by way of a short follow-up to the last post. When I re-read it, I wondered if I was falling into that way of thinking which besets those of us over a certain age. We look back on the society of our younger days with a certain affection as a more innocent, responsible time; then we contrast it with the dissolute age in which we now are. Is this my problem? Well, here’s Clifford Longley writing in last week’s Tablet.
None of this (the election of Pope Francis and the installation of Archbishop Justin Welby) is likely to make much lasting impression on British society and its obstinate pervasive secularity. The world may admire, but not change; there is no call to conversion. Both Churches (Catholic and Anglican) are on course to continue their slow decline in membership and influence, as British social and cultural life drifts even further away from anything recognisably Christian .
Meanwhile along with churchgoing, and probably connected with it in a complicated way, there has been a collapse of values and virtues in institution after institution, from the health service to the finance industry, from politicians to the professions. By any measure people are more selfish and less honest, less faithful and less trustworthy. Indeed, it is because of the vacuum in values that administrators have tightened their regulations to try to rectify the decline. It hasn’t worked and instead has accelerated the process, for by their very nature rules crowd out virtues.
And although there will always be individuals who stand out, the secular claim that it is possible to have high ethical principles without religion is gradually, generation by generation, unravelling. The nation’s moral capital is being exhausted.
The Tablet 23rd March 2013 p.5
About Scott Anderson
Formerly an Anglican priest (ordained 1975) received into the Catholic Church in February 2012, and ordained to the Diaconate on 27th July 2013. I took early retirement, and divide my time between London and northern France. I am deeply committed to the Ordinariate as a gift of the Holy Spirit in the search for unity. Like many Ordinariate members I feel a personal gratitude to Pope Emeritus Benedict, together with loyalty to our Holy Father, Pope Francis. My blog tries to make a small contribution to the growth of the Ordinariate by asking questions (and proposing some answers) about the 'Anglican Patrimony'.
I have always been fascinated by the whole issue of growth and decline, and therefore concerned for appropriate means of evangelisation in western Europe. I believe that the Holy Spirit is constantly renewing the People of God and that we must be open to him.
On Saturday 19th October 2013, I was ordained to the Priesthood at Most Precious Blood, Borough, by the Most Revd Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark, for the service of the Ordinariate of our Lady of Walsingham. I continued to serve the Ordinariate group and Parish at Most Precious Blood until the end of 2014. Subsequently, I helped in the care of the Ordinariate Groups at Hemel Hempstead and Croydon, and in the Archdiocese of Southwark, until the beginning of September 2015. With the agreement of my Ordinary, , the Bishop of Amiens appointed me Administrator of the Parish of Notre Dame des Etangs (Pont Remy) in Picardie, France.
After nine years as parish priest, with wonderful and supportive parishioners, I decided that the time had come to retire and return to the UK. A nasty accident four years ago and contracting COVID has left me physically rather feeble! I shall be ever grateful for the years in France, a wonderful ending to the years of parish ministry. So here I am back in the UK, taking a long rest, setting up home, coping with all the new Safeguarding procedures - and wondering what next.
None of this (the election of Pope Francis and the installation of Archbishop Justin Welby) is likely to make much lasting impression on British society and its obstinate pervasive secularity. The world may admire, but not change; there is no call to conversion. Both Churches (Catholic and Anglican) are on course to continue their slow decline in membership and influence, as British social and cultural life drifts even further away from anything recognisably Christian .
Ordinariate Pilgrim 
Perfectly put by CL. It reminded me of a possible definition of the Ethos of an organisation – it is that which is done and said when nobody is watching or listening.