From the Vicar
There was a very significant announcement on October 20th from Rome, with some preliminary information about an Apostolic Constitution from the Pope. The full details have not yet been published, or the protocols for their operation. But this is certainly likely to be one of the most important documents in the area of Anglican Roman Catholic relations in 450 years. It is international in its scope. Interestingly in terms of ecumenical relations, it would seem to have come as something of a surprise.
It is not a mutual recognition of two ecclesial traditions with a shared more distant past. It will offer reception into the Roman Catholic Church with the option of an incorporation of some aspects of the Anglican tradition, yet to be made clear. Priests (married or unmarried) who care to take this up would however still require re-ordination and bishops will not be able to continue as bishops. If a considerable number of people in a particular area were to take this Roman Option, it would be likely that a separate parish would be established connected to similar parishes around a country, rather than neighbouring regular Roman Catholic parishes. In almost all cases it would be a question of staring afresh, in terms of property and buildings.
This way of accepting married priests in the western Church will definitely provoke a negative reaction in the mainstream. Some anglo-papalists could find the idea of having to include themselves in a recognisably Anglican liturgical tradition challenging. We might also see emerging tensions between the catholic and evangelical extremes of bodies like GAFCON.
St Peter’s Eastern Hill continues: Anglican, catholic, welcoming.
God bless you
Fr John.
Dear Father
ReplyDeleteBlessings in Christ!
As a Catholic, I find your website comments on the Holy See's announcement of the upcoming Apostolic Constitution revealing.
"... I can only say that what would truly have been a matter for rejoicing would have been a mutual ecclesial recognition of orders, with all that would flow from that."
It seems such a view asks the impossible of the Holy See; namely, to repudiate it's teaching that Anglican orders are invalid and, with it, a full recognition of the validity of the sacraments that Anglican clergy purport to offer. This is not possible, even though the Church accepts at all times, the working of the Holy Spirit, in those services and within your community of believers and all the good works done by them.
It seems as though such a view asks the Catholic Church to approve of what happened in the faith and practice affirmation of Anglicans flowing from the Protestant Reformation. This can't and won't happen, even if the errors which were committed by Catholics supposedly in the name of orthodox Catholic faith have been recognised for what they are.
Without a conversion of all of us to true Catholic faith, we will never be united as He willed.
Wishing you in your ministry and your flock every blessing in Christ,
John
It should be fairly clear now, as it always has been, that the Church cannot do anything other than only accept into its fold a genuine adherence to orthodox Catholic belief in all its elements, even if there is permitted a legitimate diversity of disclipine and practice.
May God bless those for whom this is helpful, but meanwhile St Peter's Eastern Hill continues: Anglican, catholic and welcoming.
"It is not a mutual recognition of two ecclesial traditions with a shared more distant past...
St Peter’s Eastern Hill continues: Anglican, catholic, welcoming.