Always an England, Maybe Not Anglicanism

We will find out soon if the Church of England will have women bishops. [I wrote this a few days ago and the answer for now is "no" though not because a majority declined, rather, only because the 2/3 super majority was not reached.] Though some of us had no doubts about the inevitability of it all, it appears the Parliament may also have a few cents to add to the discussion.

“Should the Church of England vote against the equality of women they should no longer be the established church!”

Or if that was not clear enough:

"If you don’t vote for women bishops we’ll make you have women bishops anyway.”

Perhaps therein lies the problem. An established church has no power to resist parliamentary influence.  Sweden found out but too late.  Even disestablishment does not cure the ills once the church has become merely an agency of the state.

Unless it were not unEnglish, disestablishment might hold off the further encroachment of secular liberalism.  But, alas, it is so,well, unEnglish.  The whole identity of the C of E is inseparably intertwined with the monarchy and the government.  If the C of E were not the established church, would it be anything at all?

Oh, well... it is all academic, anyhow... the C of E will do what it must do... to survive.  Even if that means being unfaithful to the catholic tradition....

Update:  PM Cameron said he was “very sad” about the result. “On a personal basis I’m a strong supporter of women bishops. I’m very sad about the way the vote went yesterday …. I think it’s important for the Church of England to be a modern church in touch with society as it is today and this was a key step it needed to take.”  WWCS.... What Would Chesterton Say?