The good old "C of E" (or how can one dialogue with a complete muddle?)

The Romford Recorder is perhaps the most significant local paper in my part of the world. This does not mean that it is any good - it's front page headlines are often quite offensive in the way in which they refer to those facing allegations of violent or sexual crime.

This week it carries an article about a local Anglican vicar attacking the Archbishop of Canterbury over the position of gay and lesbian people in the Church of England: Priest's fury in gay clergy row. I reproduce the text of the article below, in case it is removed from the Recorder's website at the end of the week.

A Romford priest penned a furious open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury after he claimed the top Anglican's musings forecast "nothing good for lesbian and gay people".The Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams infuriated many Christians with his July essay: Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future, in which he thought believers may have adopt one of "two styles of being Anglican" to deal with rifts in the church caused by the ordination of homosexuals."This has been called a two-tier model, or, more disparagingly, a first and second-class structure. But perhaps we are faced with the possibility rather of a two-track model, two ways of witnessing to the Anglican heritage," Dr Williams wrote. The fragmentation would allow liberals to embrace issues like homosexuality, while at the same time traditionalists could maintain their
staunch objections.
But Fr John-Francis Friendship, rector at St Andrew's Church, in St Andrews Road, for eight years, who is in a civil partnership, hit back that he was deeply concerned by the tone and content of Dr Williams' suggestions - which he believes leaves homosexuals out in the cold. He wrote: "We are called to become the church God wants us to be...we find no indication of how that can be for those who are not heterosexual."We urge you not to negate that prophetic, inclusive voice we believe you have in the past expressed".His letter is backed by more than 140 supporters following an online campaign on social networking site, Facebook.
Fr John-Francis also slammed comments by Dr Williams that same-sex unions were a "chosen lifestyle", as well as the Archbishop's paralleling of same-sex marriage to sex before marriage - viewed as a sin by some Christian traditionalists.The 62-year-old rector told the Recorder this week: "There were lots of people feeling very hurt and confused by the reflections. I wanted to give a voice to those who wished to have their sentiments known."He added "There were a number of unfortunate phrases in the piece. Nothing we heard was good news for lesbian and gay people".The speech has also outraged 13 liberal Anglican groups that promote inclusiveness for typically sidelined groups, including homosexuals, ethnic minorities, and women.
Fr John-Francis, who has been in a civil partnership since 2006, expects the petitions would be "considered and taken onboard" by the Archbishop. A spokesman for Dr Williams said he was unavailable for comment as he is on annual leave.

The priest's parish is St Andrew's Romford, and this page at its website gives some idea of the ecclesial stance of the parish and its Rector.

Now, there is a certain amount of confusion within the Archbishop of Canterbury's remarks - I think he is really suggesting that one can be an Anglican in any way one likes, not just in "two tracks" - but a complete muddle in being thoroughly "pro-gay" in a parish that claims adherence to a Catholic tradition within the Church of England.

It seems to me that theological or ecumenical dialogue is not possible with an institution that contains such confusion. This extends down to the local level. How far can Roman Catholic parishes in Romford engage with this parish in dialogue or in fellowship without at the same time damaging their own witness to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on human sexuality?