When I heard the news, it was like when I heard my uncle decided to enter the seminary. My first reaction to him was, “When I prayed last night for an increase in vocations, I didn’t expect such instant results.”
As I’ve prayed for the unification of the Church and all Christians recently, I certainly didn’t expect the news that came down today. (See AOL News.)
We may have to add another category to this blog: Along with the Eastern Rites, we may now have another Rite — distinct, with its own traditions, and loyal to Rome — but not that altogether than the Western Church. In fact, it would be Western. It would be Anglican!
The Vatican announced today it is setting up a special canonical structure to accept into the Church disaffected Anglicans and Episcopalians. The Anglican Church has experienced a schism over its acceptance of an openly and cohabitating American bishop and have formed a new church. Now, they may, as parishes, dioceses and/or individual priests and layity enter into Catholic communion more easily. That’s the good news.
The bad news, if that’s what one will call it — perhaps confusing is a better word — is that this new structure is prepared to accept Anglican married priests and their liturgies and prayers. Right now, Anglican priests who become Catholic are accepted into the Catholic priesthod on a case by case basis. Some married Anglican priests are accepted during these reviews.
But if they are to be brought in wholesale? It’s envisioned that it would be a boundary-less rite, such as the Eastern Rites who have populations in the West, and which have set up parishes within Roman Rite dioceses, but have their own bishops. So, could the Episcopal church next door become a Catholic parish? One that you could attend to fulfill your Sunday obligation? Or even get confirmed into? What will this do to further pressure the Roman Rite to allow married priests?
One would think Cardinal Levada and Pope Benedict would not enter into this lightly, or without lots of prayer. But for the layity, there’s lots to consider here — will this water down the Church? — and a lot to pray about.
