Traditionalist Anglicans in the US may be welcomed as a group into the Catholic Church, rather than being received as individuals under plans announced by the Archbishop of Newark on July 11.
“We are working on expanding the mandate of the Pastoral Provision to include those clergy and faithful of 'continuing Anglican communities’,” Archbishop Richard J Myers said in San Antonio, Texas at a conference for “Anglican Use” parishes of the Roman Catholic Church.
Anglo-Catholic bishops attending the Lambeth Conference confirmed to ReligiousIntelligence.com that discussions were underway with the Vatican over their reception into the Roman Catholic Church, and were hopeful a way could be found for them to go over to Rome with their dioceses.
The first move Rome-wards would likely be that of an Anglican religious community, one bishop at Lambeth said, as the thorny question of the ownership of parish property was not at issue in that situation.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity --- the Vatican body charged with ecumenical relations, has long denied suggestions the Roman Catholic Church was preparing a haven within its ranks for Anglican traditionalists.
The President of the Council, Cardinal Walter Kasper is scheduled to address the Lambeth Conference next week, while Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples will speak to the bishops on “Mission, Social Justice and Evangelism” on July 23.
However, bishops at Lambeth privy to the negotiations told ReligiousIntelligence.com their talks had been with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The Vatican has also been in conversation on sacramental union with the leaders of the Traditional Anglican Communion, a continuing Anglican group.
While the Pastoral Provision for Anglican Use parishes is only in effect in the United States at present, the talks with the Vatican are designed to expand the provisions scope and geographic reach --- opening the door for all Traditionalist Anglicans to go over to Rome while keeping their Anglican liturgies, orders and heritage.
In 1980 Pope John Paul II issued a Pastoral Provision permitting congregations of former Episcopalians in the United States, who as individuals had joined the Catholic Church, to form Roman Catholic congregations that used a Book of Divine Worship modelled upon the traditional Anglican Book of Common Prayer.
The Pastoral Provision also permitted former Episcopal priests who were married to be re-ordained as Roman Catholic priests.
The Pastoral Provision, “although not the work of ecumenism” had been created as “a vehicle through which individuals from the Episcopal Church can be reconciled with the Catholic Church,” Archbishop Myers said.
The Newark archbishop’s announcement appears to expand upon the provision, opening the door for communities of Anglicans to be received into the Roman Catholic Church as part of a community, rather than as individuals.
General Synod’s decision earlier this month not to provide legal safeguards for opponents of the ordination of women has added a degree of immediacy to the quest for church reunion.
Archbishop Myers, who has oversight over Anglican Use parishes in the United States, said the Roman Catholic Church was “striving to increase awareness of our apostolate to Anglican Christians who desire to be reconciled with the Holy See. We have experienced the wonder of several Episcopal bishops entering into full communion with the Catholic Church and we continue to receive requests from priests and laity about the Pastoral Provision.”
While the “relationship and dialogue seem strained at times” Catholics and Anglicans are “obliged to continue to pray and work for unity.” Archbishop Myers said, and “until that unity is achieved the Pastoral Provision serves somehow to close the gap.”
Aides to the Archbishop of Canterbury declined comment, stating they had not read the address. However, they noted that at first blush, the comments appeared to be at odds with a message of support sent by Pope Benedict XVI to Archbishop Rowan Williams.
Writing from Australia, Benedict told Dr Williams the “words and the message of Christ are what offer the real contribution to Lambeth and only in being faithful to the message” and to “God’s words can we find a mature way” for the two churches “to find a road together.”
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