Not just Anglican Use!

[amergina]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has established a special structure for Anglicans who want to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving aspects of their Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage, said U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada

Comments

[theliveofv]

Maybe I'm not as hospitable as the Vatican, but why can't Anglicans simply convert the normal way like everyone else? I don't really understand why the Vatican would go to such lengths to "convert" these Anglicans...and frankly, I really feel that if someone wants to convert they need to be doing it wholeheartedly. The idea of married, ordained Catholic priests just conjures up images of the ordained gay bishops in the Anglican Church and seems like the perfect wedge to begin splitting the Catholics apart in the same way the Anglicans are. Why are we letting the problems of the Anglican Church spill over into our Church, to the extent that we are accepting something so fundamentally against our original beliefs (married ordained priests)? Honestly, I am very disappointed. Am I not getting something here, or am I just inhospitable?

[amergina]

The idea of married, ordained Catholic priests just conjures up images of the ordained gay bishops in the Anglican Church and seems like the perfect wedge to begin splitting the Catholics apart in the same way the Anglicans are. Why are we letting the problems of the Anglican Church spill over into our Church, to the extent that we are accepting something so fundamentally against our original beliefs (married ordained priests)?

I think perhaps you're not aware that the Eastern Catholic Churches (that are fully and completely in union with Rome) do ordain married men. (The Ukrainian Catholic church my parents attend has a married pastor.) Or that there have been some Lutheran married clergy converts that were then ordained as Catholic priests.

Celibacy in the Western Catholic church is a discipline, not a (capital T) Tradition.

[miafeliz]

Celibacy in the Western Catholic church is a discipline, not a (capital T) Tradition.

Yep, it could be ended at any time, but I don't ever expect to see that happen in my lifetime.

[theliveofv]

After I posted this comment, I remembered the Eastern Rites. But does this mean that the Anglicans will have a "rite" of their own? Because it doesn't really sound like it...it sounds like they are becoming Roman Catholic.

Ut Unum Sint

[thomryng]

Pope Benedict teaches us how ecumenism is supposed to work, methinks. ;)

[cmaried]

I'm still left with many questions. How does this work for Anglicans who don't believe in certain doctrines: eg the Immaculate Conception, Purgatory, Papal Infallibility, etc?

[amergina]

They, like everyone else who converts, would have to accept all Catholic doctrine upon conversion to the Catholic church.

This is a way for Anglicans who *want* to come into union with Rome (and thus accept all of the doctrines of the Catholic Church) to keep their liturgy and unique forms of worship.

Presumably, if they do not accept the doctrines of the Catholic Church, they won't become a part of it.

It's not saying that all Anglicans are now Catholic.

[cmaried]

That seems interesting--so, ecumenism on an individual basis, not by branch, diocese or parish. The thing with the Anglicans is (and you most likely already know of this) there are many varying, individual views in each parish, from low to high church. It's rather confusing..

[evilvillan_1]

Anglican distinctions is nowhere as difficult as trying to explain the differing views/opinions in the Catholic faith, in my opinion. High Anglicans can be more "Catholic" than some Catholics. Believe me, I've seen it.

[evilvillan_1]

This news makes me very happy indeed. I was going to be baptized Anglican before feeling called to become Roman Catholic -- and I think this is a good step for the Catholic faith.

[rogueblack]

Did you know being baptised Anglican is the same as being baptised Catholic? The Trinitarian Baptism is accepted equally by both Churches.

[rogueblack]

I don't mean my previous comment to seem trite. It was just a lighthearted FYI that, even if you had been baptised in an Anglican church, you could still be converted the same into a Roman Catholic church. Trinitarian Baptism is one of the few (*cough* only) rites that's sacredly held no matter which church performs it.

[evilvillan_1]

:) I know... I'm glad that baptisms are considered valid no matter which denomination you get baptized under... (providing they baptize in the name of the Trinity etc). I also got confirmed Catholic at the same ceremony at Easter too :)

[miafeliz]

Michael, the Augustinian Seminarian, aka rest_in_thee, made a comment about today's big news in his blog. He has links to other commentary and posts discussing this story.

[bork]

It's great he has a blog, but I really miss his LJ posts in this community. They were always interesting.

[miafeliz]

Yeah, it's a nice blog. He'll be back!

[napoleonofnerds]

Turns out these words were pretty prophetic.