As I was reading through the book of Numbers, a passaged jumped out at me. It is the story of Korah’s rebellion. Korah protests against Moses and Aaron: “You have gone too far! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”” (Num 16:3)

Moses replies to Korah: “Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that he has brought you near him, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together; what is Aaron that you murmur against him?” (Num 16-8-10)

The root of it is that Korah wants to be a priest. Moses perceives that his murmuring against Aaron is in fact based on envy. As I reflect on my experience in the priesthood of the Episcopal Church, I think that a parallel can be made. First, let me say that I admire the many Episcopalian clergy and laymen that I know. There is, however, a latent “anti-Catholicism”, especially among Anglo-Catholics. A general “murmuring” against the Roman See. Even my own murmuring against the Holy See was a self-justification for being “Catholic but not Roman”.

It is alleged that Rome falsely sets herself above Christendom and that she undermines the authority of nations or relativizes diocesan authority. Anglo-Catholics frequently murmur against the sub-par liturgy or music of Roman Catholics. Or more recently, I hear Anglicans murmuring that Rome isn’t responding to Anglicans by erecting a personal prelature or “Uniat” Anglican Church. Could it be that murmuring against divinely established authority is simply a pretense for schism – something condemned by Almighty God?