Wrong Reasons, Right Reasons for Seeking Full Communion through Anglican Ordinariate

Unity is not a "good" thing-unity is a great thing. Unity is not a "nice" thing-unity is a necessary thing. Come into the Catholic Church for the right reason. Seek unity because it is what Christ commanded (not "suggested"). Seek communion with Rome because it is right.

P>DES MOINES, IA (The Anglo-Catholic) - We stood in a circle speaking about how excited we were that the Ordinariate looked so close. We were encouraging one another with our mere presence in the room. "I'm so glad that we are able to keep our liturgy", one said. Another relayed his enthusiasm that, "the Pope is so gracious to allow the soon-to-be-former-Bishops so many privileges". "This is what I've been praying about for so many years now", someone else said. A priest in the circle said, "unity is so important, I'm glad that we have this opportunity to come into communion with the Catholic Church." After much discussion with the owner of the last comment, it became apparent to me that he saw the Ordinariate as an ecumenical venture that would lead toward a stronger Church. Although this is true, that is not the whole picture.

I know quite a few people who are looking forward to the establishment of the Ordinariate here in the USA. Each one seems to have a slightly different reason for their anticipation. Each of us have been driven in this direction because of the experiences and events that God has put us and/or the parishes we are a part of through. It has been discussed before that there is a vital distinction between "running to" the Catholic Church, and "running away" from whatever it is you are leaving behind. Yet, on the side of "running to" it is not hard to get confused and have it appear that we are "running to" the Catholic Church, when we are really "running to" something peripheral to the Church herself.

The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth, and she is where we are to find communion with our Lord. The Catholic Church is that place where the successor to the Apostle Peter is. We have been commanded to be in communion with the Holy Father, and that is what we are seeking. Coming into communion with the Pope is on a different scale that coming into communion with anyone else. Parish "A" and parish "B" may reconcile over a difficult issue, and as a result find communion with one another. Person "A" and person "B" may resolve strife that existed between the two and as a result they make peace. A certain Anglican denomination may join with another certain Anglican denomination, and the result is full communion between the two. Yet, none of these are on the scale with coming to "full and visible communion" with the Pope of Rome. Each of these forms of reunification are good, but none compares with reuniting with the Catholic Church herself.

I know that there are some who are showing interest in the Ordinariate merely out of an interest in a general "ecumenism", rather than a desire for biblical truth. If one does not see the biblical necessity of communion, and is only aiming at (in his opinion) another attempt at unity (because "unity is a good thing wherever it occurs"), then this may make the effort backfire. I have seen many attempts at personal reconciliation ruined because one or both of the parties approaches the situation thinking that they themselves did not need to change, but that everyone else did. "I'm OK and you will be if you would just do what I tell you" is not an uncommon attitude in Christians today. I personally like "unity stuff" but that is not the core reason for why I desire to join the Ordinariate. I believe that the increase in numbers will lead to blessings, but that is also not why I am coming to the Ordinariate.

If someone's attitude is "I'm just fine on my own, but it would be really nice to be in union with the Catholic Church" then it is likely that he does not understand what Anglicanorum Coetibus is all about. Entering the Ordinariate is not supposed to be because "it is a nice thing to do" but because "it is the only right thing to do". If your heart is not there, and you are still thinking it is merely the best of the options, then you may need to rethink just what your actions are. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28-30). I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from entering the Ordinariate; I want to see it grow and flourish as a force for righteousness in the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is better to make the right decision now than to realize later that you made the wrong one.

The Ordinariate has already begun in England and Wales, and there are many over there trying to decide if it is for them or not. Everyone else in the world who is waiting for the Ordinariate to be established where they live, are wondering "who is next?" Here we are, coming down to the final months before the Ordinariate is established in the United States and I know of a few priests and parishes that are wrestling with these very same issues; "Is it right for us, and if so, is it right today?" It is not right to be coming into communion if the only reason is because we like "unity stuff" and think that things are better if we have bigger numbers. It is not a matter of logistics and pleasantness that should be leading us to this; it is a matter of what is right and good. If my parish chooses not to join, then I must resign. If my wife chooses not to join, then I must join by myself. If my bishop chooses not to join, then I must ask him to release me. If the Pope decides he is better off without me being ordained, then I must say "thank you for considering me, and how can I serve best as a layman?"

Unity is not a "good" thing-unity is a great thing. Unity is not a "nice" thing-unity is a necessary thing. Come into the Catholic Church for the right reason. Seek unity because it is what Christ commanded (not "suggested"). Seek communion with Rome, but not because the "Roman Christians" are cool, or conservative, or Catholic. Seek communion with Rome, but not because it is looks good to be unified. Seek communion with Rome because it is right. Again, I have no interest in driving someone away from becoming a part of the Ordinariate, but I do have a desire to make sure that no one come for the wrong reasons, and that no one be confused about what the right reasons are. May God's grace be upon each of you as you seek to make the right decision.

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Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah is a priest in the Traditional Anglican Communion awaiting the establishment of the Anglican ordinariate in the United States. He and his wife have five children and we have recently moved to Des Moines, Iowa. He serves as the Rector of St. Aidan's Anglican Church (ACA). They patiently await reception into full communion with the Catholic Church once the Ordinariates are established. Fr. Chori is a regular contributor to The Anglo-Catholic, an outstanding source for news on the Ordinariate edited by Christian Campbell. He also offers his own weblog called The Maccabean.

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The Anglo Catholic is an excellent source for all news and commmentary on the Anglican ordinariate. It is edited by Christian Campbell.