Word: kernan
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PRIESTS LIKE THE REV. WILLIAM C. KERNAN [TIME, MAY 26], WHO SEEK AN ULTIMATE AUTHORITARIANISM WHICH THEY CAN EXERCISE IN THE CHURCH, WILL ALWAYS FIND THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH UNCONGENIAL TO THEIR MINISTRIES. HE HAS CONFUSED AUTHORITY WITH REGIMENTATION, AND RELIGIOUS CERTAINTY WITH ECCLESIASTICAL COERCION. NOTHING WOULD SIMPLIFY THE TASK OF THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AS MUCH AS A GRANT OF THE KIND OF AUTHORITARIANISM MR. KERNAN SEEMS TO SEEK. FEW THINGS WOULD SO EFFECTIVELY OBSCURE AND CORRUPT THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH AS THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALS IT . . . THE THING THAT MAKES THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH...
Since his ordination 23 years ago, William C. Kernan has made a name for himself as an Episcopal priest. In addition to his parish duties as assistant to the rector of the Church of St. James the Less in suburban Scarsdale, N.Y., Father Kernan has appeared as a religious spokesman on frequent radio and TV programs. Most recently he has been leading a fight against "Communist influences" in Scarsdale's public schools. Last week, after preaching at the morning service, 52-year-old High Churchman Kernan told his rector that he did not consider himself an Episcopalian any more...
...Father Kernan, it was the second big step in his life in his search for religious certainty. He was brought up a Baptist, but turned to the Episcopal Church in college days (Yale '23) because he was distressed at the latitude of belief among Northern Baptists. But over the years, Father Kernan's satisfaction with the Episcopal communion began to wear thin. He wanted to speak for his church on such matters as birth control (which he opposes) and the invocation of the saints (which he advocates). But he found no binding pronouncements by Episcopal Church authority either...
...Father Kernan summed up his personal dilemma: "Authority means law which is enforceable. There is an absolute lack of authority in the Episcopal Church-at least so far as the priesthood is concerned. Our Lord did not found the church on the laity. He founded it on the priesthood. Yet the rector of an Episcopal church has to do what the people want...
...pressure of his doubts grew heavy, Episcopalian Kernan began looking outside his own communion, decided that he belonged in the Church of Rome. Last week, though he has no definite plans for supporting his wife and six children, he told his friends he felt like...