On the recent announcement from Rome and Canterbury: what does it all mean?!
Don't know just yet. We have to wait for the publication of the Apostolic Constitution to get the details.
Generally speaking, the Holy Father has made it possible for Anglicans fed up with the silliness of their Ecclesial Betters to come into full communion with Rome while retaining much of their beloved Anglican tradition (e.g., the Prayer Book, their music, etc.). This is basically what has been happening on a much smaller scale in the "Anglican Use" movement in the U.S.
An Episcopalian parish votes to leave its diocese and petitions the Catholic bishop for admission into full communion. With property, priest, and prayer book in hand, the whole parish becomes Catholic. With a few modifications in the Prayer Book (and the pastor!), the parish is now a Catholic parish with a decidedly Anglican flavor.
If the Episcopalian priest is married, he remains married (of course!). But so long as his wife is living he may not be appointed bishop. After her death, he may not remarry.
What today's move does is set up a parallel jurisdiction within the RCC run by the former Anglicans themselves. Leadership would come from an "ordinary," a former Anglican clergyman who is now a Catholic clergyman. Currently married Anglican priests will be ordained into the priesthood, while bishops will have to be celibate.
A sure indicator that this is the right move is the pinched, huffy response from The Tablet and NCR(ag) commenters. They don't much like it. . .so, it must be a good thing.
Also, this is great news for those Catholics who are regularly stuck with the choice of going to Mass at either Our Lady of the Dancing Liturgical Clowns, or the local Newman Center where Fr. Hollywood passes the Spirit of Vatican Two peace bong right before the readings from Oprah's latest televised drivel. If there's an "Anglican Use" parish nearby, they will find reverent liturgy, orthodox preaching, and a lot of really excellent fellowship. . .all without being beaten over the head with leftie "social justice" nonsense.
Many, many questions remain about exactly how all of this will operate. . .we'll just have to wait and see.
UPDATE: Creative Minority Report has the most comprehensive report on the Rome-Canterbury doings from yesterday. Of particular note is the truly orthodox nature of the ecumenism involved in this generous offer from the Holy Father. Professional ecumenists must be gnashing their teeth--"Why! The ecumenical movement is all about using the need for unity as a front for diluting Catholic doctrine and practice! How dare the Pope actually bring people into the Church w/o altering Catholic doctrine or practice!"
UPDATE: Creative Minority Report has the most comprehensive report on the Rome-Canterbury doings from yesterday. Of particular note is the truly orthodox nature of the ecumenism involved in this generous offer from the Holy Father. Professional ecumenists must be gnashing their teeth--"Why! The ecumenical movement is all about using the need for unity as a front for diluting Catholic doctrine and practice! How dare the Pope actually bring people into the Church w/o altering Catholic doctrine or practice!"
Thanks for making this more clear without making me read all of it on my own. :)
ReplyDeleteIn addition to providing a spiritual home for the Anglicans, Pope Benedict has also, at a stroke, reformed the Catholic Church in Great Britain. The Tablet Church has just gotten its wake-up call--and the news is uniformly bad for all of them. No more legalistic wrangling over liturgical reform, no more doctrinal waffling, no more stonewalling traditional Catholic impulses--the ground has shifted, and faster than ever could have been achieved by patient episcopal appointments over the years.
ReplyDeleteCricket's over--Benny wants to play rugby now...
"Also, this is great news for those Catholics who are regularly stuck with the choice of going to Mass at either Our Lady of the Dancing Liturgical Clowns, or the local Newman Center where Fr. Hollywood passes the Spirit of Vatican Two peace bong right before the readings from Oprah's latest televised drivel."
ReplyDeleteI don't have to suffer too much at our local parishes. However, I find most NO Masses to not be spiritually uplifting. I was feeling guilty because my first thought was, "Wow, if St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Spokane became Catholic I would have a beautiful church and outstanding music." Now I don't feel so guilty. Thanks!
While I find this news encouraging—and while I dislike goofy or irreverent liturgy just as much as the next reader of this blog—I have to wonder: if, as you seem to be suggesting, this new development would eventually allow faithful in the US more or less to choose their own Ordinary, don’t you think that this would cause problems in terms of inter-Roman Catholic Church unity?
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA! Oh, Fr. Philip - you make me laugh! Hope all is well.
ReplyDeletewhy? because BXVI > Chuck Norris
ReplyDeleteAfter her death, he [the bishop] may not remarry.
ReplyDeleteUntil he applies and is given a dispensation - trust me it will happen.
Permanent deacons, being ordained, are not supposed to re marry either - yeah right.
Incidentally, the commenters at dotCommonweal are, en masse [soiling] their cage.
ReplyDeleteThey are not merely "not happy" they are INCANDESCENT.
AMDG,
-J.
When The Holy Father gave us Summorum Pontificum, they complained that he wasn't a professional Liturgist.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be hearing a lot of nonsense about Pope Benedict not being a professional Ecumenist, next.