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.
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More From The Vatican On Acceptance Of Anglicans Into The Church » Real Catholic Blog says:
October 26, 2009 at 4:01 pm
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Wouldn’t This Be The Best Possible Christmas Present? » Real Catholic Blog says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:56 pm
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Church Closer To Re-Unifying With Anglicans In America? » Real Catholic Blog says:
March 7, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Comments[...] Church News, Issues, News And Current Events by Brother Stephen Oct 26 2009 TrackBack Address. The announcement last week that the Holy See will set into motion a constitution for the acceptance … has been the buzz of church goers and secular media alike. There is some confusion, especially [...]
[...] with Pope Benedict’s recent overture to traditional Episcopal and Anglican churches and dioceses, there is hope that people of great faith, who perhaps because of human failings throughout the [...]
[...] the very real possibility of the first steps toward the end of the Anglican split with the Church. News first arose of this in October (see our comment here) and continued for a while, then seemed to disappear. But now, there is actual movement toward [...]