THREE FORMER Anglican bishops made history at the weekend by becoming
the first to be ordained Catholic priest members of a new
“ordinariate’’ set up by the Vatican.
Former Church of England
bishops, Keith Newton, John Broadhurst and Andrew Burnham, were ordained
by Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols at Westminster Cathedral in
London on Saturday.
The Archbishop told them “many ordinations
have take place in this cathedral during the 100 years of its history.
But none quite like this. Today is a unique occasion marking a new step
in the life and history of the Catholic Church.’’
He continued that
“this morning the establishment of the first personal ordinariate under
the provision of the Apostolic Constitution
Anglicanorum Coetibus has been announced in our hearing.’’
Archbishop
Nichols thanked members of the Church of England for offering their
prayers and good wishes to the newly ordained Catholic priests.
He said
“first among these is Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury, with his
characteristic insight, and generosity of heart and spirit”.
The
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham follows the Anglicanorum coetibus
document issued by Pope Benedict on November 4th, 2009, and which will
enable such people to preserve within the Catholic Church elements of
Anglican prayer, liturgy and pastoral practice which are in accordance
with Catholic teaching.
It was set up by Rome to accommodate those
Anglicans and their clergy who wish to enter into full communion with
the Catholic Church and who have become disaffected with their own
Communion or Church over issues such as the ordination of women, female
bishops, homosexual clergy and the recognition of same-sex unions.
Last
summer the Church of England voted to go ahead with legislation to
consecrate women bishops.
As many as 50 Anglican clergy are expected to
join the new ordinariate as well as two retired Church of England
bishops.
SIC: IT/IE