Anglican 'First Fruits' for the 'Pope of Christian Unity'

By Deacon Keith Fournier
11/6/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The old adage has so often proven to be an accurate assessment of reality, the 'best Catholics are converts'.

The authentic ecumenical mission, the full and visible unity of the Church, was at the heart of Pope John Paul�s pontificate � and is at the heart of Pope Benedict�s - because it is in the center of the heart of the Lord.

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LONDON (Catholic Online) - Damien Thompson reported on Thursday in the UK Telegraph that the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) members in the United Kingdom have formally passed a resolution accepting the invitation from the Holy See to pursue full communion through the establishment of a Personal Ordinariate. It is expected that the Apostolic Constitution setting forth the process will be released in days.

Damien Thompson wrote the following in a piece entitled �Pope's Anglican offer accepted by Traditional Anglican Communion in Britain":

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�The UK wing of the Traditional Anglican Communion � a group of rebel traditionalists who have left official Anglicanism � has voted to accept Pope Benedict XVI�s offer of a Personal Ordinariate. The TAC has only a few small communities in Britain, but the Pope will be pleased by this development.

Hat-tip to Fr Tim Finigan, who says on his blog: �I hear a lot of sceptical comments about the Holy Father�s offer of Personal Ordinariates, with the conventional wisdom being that it will not really attract many people. So it is good to hear news of twenty or so parish communities that will be interested. The TAC asked for the provision in the first place so it is to be expected that they would be first off the mark; but I think that there may well be plenty more to follow in due course.�

Here are more details, from the Signum blog:
The Traditional Anglican Communion in the UK voted last Thursday (October 29) to request that they form part of the proposed Ordinariate in the UK.

During the Forward in Faith conference Archbishop Hepworth of the TAC had stated that the motion would be placed before the Synod of the Traditional Anglican Church in the UK (and other Synods of the TAC) that the Apostolic Constitution of Benedict XVI be accepted and that its immediate implementation be requested.

The website of the TAC in the UK is now reporting that the following resolution was passed:

That this Assembly, representing the Traditional Anglican Communion in Great Britain, offers its joyful thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for his forthcoming Apostolic Constitution allowing the corporate reunion of Anglicans with the Holy See, and requests the Primate and College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion to take the steps necessary to implement this Constitution.

That this Assembly is of the respectful opinion that Bishop Robert Mercer CR might be considered for the position of Ordinary in Great Britain.

This is not unexpected as the TAC was the group that had approached Rome and Archbishop Hepworth had publicly stated that the offer of the �ordinariates� exceeded their expectations.

The TAC in the UK numbers about twenty parishes (they also have one in France). Some of these parishes would be more accurately described as mass centres rather than parishes in the full sense of the word.

This is good news as it is the first indication that the Pope�s offer is being accepted.

I�m sure readers will be lining up in the comments section to point out that the TAC is an insignificant body in Great Britain, though its supporters worldwide run into the hundreds of thousands. Also, I�d be very surprised if a TAC bishop were to be made the Ordinary for England and Wales. But perhaps the group might be granted its own Ordinariate; until the Constitution is published we really don�t have enough information to speculate. Still, as I say, the Vatican will be pleased by this news.�

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We followed the formal request of the Traditional Anglican Communion for full communion with the Catholic Church from the beginning. We persisted in doing so even after many other news sources dismissed the possibilities that such a request would ever bring a positive response. We did so because we are dedicated an authentically Catholic vision of ecumenism which recognizes the need for visible unity,with legitimate diversity, within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

In fact, the overture received more than a favorable response, it far exceeded the TAC's expectations and surprised some observers. The TAC request, along with many unknown other requests, received a warm, pastoral, prophetic and visionary response from the �Pope of Christian Unity�, Pope Benedict XVI.

We have also closely covered the movement of Anglican Clergy and lay faithful toward the safe harbor that is found in the Bark of Peter as their own Christian community has been torn asunder with a rejection of both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. It is this writers' long held conviction, as a �revert� to the Church myself, that the influx of other Christians into the Catholic Church is also a great gift to the Catholic Church.

The great beauty and depth of faith, life and worship within the Catholic Church is ...

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

Liz
3 years ago
First of all I think we should all realize that the Anglicans approached Rome. The Anglicans, while retaining their "prayer book" are embracing the Roman Rite - all doctrines. The Anglicans are not disputing any doctrine in order to be admitted to the Roman Church. Secondly, married priests are going to be admitted to the priesthood with certain caveats - they are not allowed to become bishops and I also believe that once this group of married priests passes on, celibacy may be required of future priests. Also, having once been an Episcopalian, I can assure you that you do not want married priests. I for one prefer my priests married to the Church. Married priests would introduce all sorts of problems. We have a limited number of priests and some have huge congregations. Priests should first serve Christ. I have seen married priests in the Episcopal Church who serve their wives first. What do you do when the priest wants a divorce? No married priests are not necessary for the Roman Catholic Church to grow.
Jean
3 years ago
Donny M.

I thought John Paul II started dialogue with the Eastern Church and I thought that Benedict has continued the same.

Im sure that the tide will turn regarding all "lungs" of the church.

Also I thought that the married men in the Eastern Rite always enjoyed this rite into the priesthood everywhere that they are?

Could you elaborate where the Church recently has been discriminatory toward the Eastern Rite? How they the Latin Rite has treated the Eastern Rite as second class citizens?

Peace.
Donny M
3 years ago
A little touchy David? I don't think the deacon intended to divide Catholics into two categories. Let us be fair about this. The important thing is that Anglican brothers and sisters of Christ are invited to join, as full 'welcomed' members of the Catholic faith.

I wish we could say that about our Eastern Catholic breathern who have been treated as second class citizens of the Church for some time. This is especially within the American Church.
I hope the Eastern Rite Bishops have the courage to stand up to the Roman Rite and say that they want their recognition acknowleged to.

Especially with allowing the Eastern Churches in America to ordain married men as priests.

If it is going to be o.k. with the new Anglican Rite, why not the Eastern Rites?
Catholic College Student
3 years ago
I find this all to be very exciting. We have a parish of the TAC within the boundaries of the Diocese I live in, and I have visited there for morning prayer before, the people are wonderful and the church is beautiful. I can't wait until their reunification is complete!
Tina Smyth
3 years ago
As an Episcopalian convert to Roman Catholicism I for one could not be happier. I am surely blessed to be living during this exciting time when miracles happen and am lucky to be led by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. My prayers our with the TAC and all Anglicans moving toward full communion with the Catholic Church. Godspeed
David E.
3 years ago
Shame on you, Deacon, for that opening comment on who might or might not be the "best" Catholics. In an article purportedly praising new unity with certain Anglicans, you attempt to divide into separate groups those who are Catholic now.
John S.
3 years ago
I have a question. When this goes through, are the new members going to be Catholic? or Anglican that fall under the sheperding of Rome? Can I as a "Roman Catholic" attend one of their masses and still be fulfilling my responsibilities? Thanks and God bless.
jh
3 years ago
I find the welcoming of Traditional Anglicans into the Catholic Church very exciting.
Brett Salkeld
3 years ago
This is heartening news. I am glad that Catholic Online is so behind the Pope in his ecumenical ventures.
I would ask, however, that you consider not using the term 'convert' for the Anglicans who reunite with Rome. Anglicans have always been allowed to convert to Catholicism. This is something new and different. It is the healing of schism, something which is never referred to as 'conversion' (in the sense of switching denominations).

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