priests

Those of us who are in the 'Congregational' way of being the Christian church are keen to promote the 'priesthood of all believers', and are encouraged by signs that the Roman Catholic Church is challenged by this concept. It is interesting to note that a Basque priest, Jose Antonio Pegola is being accused of heresy becasue some views he has expressed in a new book are contrary to the Vatican view. We read that the book 'Jesus; an historical approximation' has sold almost 100,000 copies, and Spanish bishops have apparently requested that a further 6000 copies should be destroyed.  Why? He writes of God being compassion, rather than power, and works out his radical view of the mission of Jesus. But I am intrigued by  this: 'In Jesus' movement all patriarchal authority disappears... no-one is above the others. There is no rank or class. There are no priests, Levites and lay people. There is no place for intermediaries. Everyone has direct, immediate access to God, the Father of all'  (The Tablot March 26 p5) That is the heart of Congregationalism. Makeof it what you can.  Henry King. AKA Ian Gregory end.