Former vicar to be ordained Catholic bishop

BY CHRISTINA WHITE
A FORMER Anglican vicar is to be made a bishop less than 10 years after he convened to the Catholic faith.
The Pope has named Fr Alan Hopes, 58, a new auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, along with Fr Bernard Longley, 47, an expert in ecumenism and assistant general secretary at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
Some observers say the appointment of Fr Hopes signals the real acceptance of the 239 Anglican clergy who were ordained Catholic priests during the 1990s, following the Church of England's decision to allow the ordination of women priests.
Fr Hopes was received into the Church in 1994 and ordained in 1995. As auxiliary bishopelect, he becomes the most senior ex-Anglican in the English and Welsh Church.
Fr Hopes served as curate at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington, London, before he was appointed parish priest at Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More, Chelsea. In 2001, he was made a vicar general of the diocese.
He follows in a tradition of high-profile Anglican converts, who include two of the most famous of all recent English cardinals, Cardinal John Henry Newman and Cardinal Henry Edward Manning.
Fr Peter Geldard, a former vicar who helped to negotiate terms for the reception of Anglican clergy into the Catholic priesthood, said the appointment was "very exciting and very good news".
He said: "It reconfirms that we are truly accepted within the Catholic priesthood and that people with gifts are being used by the Church. If they come with gifts the Church has recognised them. If one of the gifts they bring is experience that is appreciated and this has happened from Cardinal Manning onwards.
"One of the great things history has shown, and Cardinal Basil Hume said this to me personally, is: 'Don't deny your gifts, the gifts you bring will enrich the Church."' He added: "In proportion to their numbers many ex-Anglicans have become bishops in the Catholic Church, We are not asking for any special treatment. We are simply part of the family."
Fr Hopes said he was "humbled and honoured" by the appointment. He thanked his family, the Archdiocese of Westminster and the Church of England for nurturing his faith and enabling him to "embrace fully the Catholic Church".
He said:"I am happy now to be asked to make a return for that generosity and the gift of my faith by undertaking this office of service in the Church." Fr Langley, a former theology teacher at St John's Seminary, Woriersh, Surrey, said he was "very much overwhelmed" by the appointment.
Fr Longley thanked his family and fellow priests. adding: "I am delighted that 1 f Alan Hopes has been appointed at the same time as myself, that we have been able to work together from the outset and that we shall be ordained together by the Cardinal."
Cardinal Cormac MurphyO'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster. also issued a statement thanking the Pope for the appointments. He said the experience and capabilities of both priests would be of great service to the archdiocese and beyond.
He said: "I know that each of these outstanding priests will be warmly welcomed by both the priests and the people of the Diocese of Westminster."
Both bishops-elect are now in Rome. Their episcopal ordination will take place at Westminster Cathedral, London, on Friday, January 24.
The need for new auxiliaries came after Bishop Arthur Roche of Wesuninster was appointed as coadjutor Bishop of Leeds.
Westminster auxiliary Bishop George Stack is a possible candidate as the new Bishop of East Anglia, a see that has been vacant for more than a year following Archbishop Peter Smith's move to Cardiff,