Archbishop John Hepworth of the Traditional Anglican Communion has
said that about 1,000 Australians are expected to join the Catholic
Church through a special jurisdiction created by Pope Benedict XVI.
Catholics, mainstream Anglicans and members of the breakaway
Traditional Anglican Communion established a nine-member committee last
week to oversee the transition by June 12, 2011.
The Anglicans believe they will be able to retain their church
properties, which removes one obstacle to their entry into the Catholic
Church, the Australian newspaper The Age reports.
Archbishop Hepworth said that if Anglican priests and congregations
do not resign, they might be able to show “beneficial ownership” and
keep their properties.
He noted that in England the Archbishop of Canterbury
has allowed departing Anglicans to keep using their properties.
The
Australian archbishop said he hoped the Australian church would do the
same.
“It would be the tolerant and godly thing to do,” he said.
The Anglicans seeking entry into the Catholic Church have objected to
theological changes in the Anglican Communion such as the ordination of
women.
Under the Anglican ordinariate which Pope Benedict established
in his 2009 apostolic constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus,” they will
keep their clergy, liturgy and church structures.
Archbishop Hepworth reported that an Australian ordinariate would
have churches in all capital cities of the country and in many regional
and rural places.
The Traditional Anglican Communion claims 400,000 members worldwide but only 700 in Australia.
SIC: CNA/AUS