Anglican Synod

The Anglican Synod in York has voted to accept women into its episcopacy, long after the Episcopal community in the US did so, and about year after the Church of Ireland appointed its first woman bishop. The move was inevitable, regardless of what critics within the Anglican Communion said. Once women could be accepted for ordination as deacons there was no way they could be excluded from the other orders. Traditionalist and orthodox members of the Anglican Communion now have to consider their position and they are not be envied: these are hard times for them.

As Fr Z says on his blog, the Catholic Church is ready to welcome them. Thanks to Pope Benedict's founding of the Anglican Ordinariates, they can come and bring their traditions with them. We might all just offer a prayer for them at this time. Mgr Newton, Ordinary of the English Ordinariate, has issued an invitation to Anglicans to come into the Church.

As for Anglican reunion with the Catholic Church, that may well now be impossible, although the Bishops of England and Wales are still hopeful. That said, we have an obligation to maintain good relations with members of the Anglican Communion as they too are baptised and are counted among the followers of Jesus Christ, and we must find ways to work with them as brothers and sisters. Of course reunion with the Orthodox Churches is possible and to be desired. They have held to the faith, they have a valid episcopacy and priesthood, valid sacraments and we share much in common with them. Let us continue to pray for unity there. 

     

Ordinariates

Great news yesterday from Anna Arco in the Catholic Herald.  The leader of the Forward in Faith movement, a group of orthodox Anglicans, Bishop John Broadhurst, Bishop of Fulham, has announced that he is entering the Catholic Church; he hopes to be a member of the Ordinariate established by Pope Benedict XVI before the end of the year (his keynote address can be downloaded here).  According to Damien Thompson, this makes four Anglican bishops who are preparing to enter the Church.  This is wonderful news.  Bishop Broadhurst has been working for many years trying to find a solution to the problems posed within Anglicanism by recent innovations.  He will be an asset to the Church and will help many others who are discerning entering with his wisdom and example.  We must accompany him with our prayers. 

One question I am asking myself is: are these Anglicans converting?   Can we use that word, since many of them already accept most of the teachings of the Catholic faith (the primacy of the Pope may be a difficulty for some)? For many years they have believed in the Real Presence as the Catholic Church teaches, they love Our Lady with that gentle passion which is traditionally English and beautiful; they embrace the saints and venerate them as we do.  They love the liturgy and have been celebrating it in a "Roman manner" (if I can say that), and they have been deferential towards the Holy See, desiring union in their hearts for many years.  Ironically their faith has been more Catholic than some within the Church as it is.  But is this conversion?  I don't think so.  In official terms they are entering full communion with the Catholic Church and the successor of St Peter.  We could say they are coming home, or taking their rightful places in the family of the faith. 

I think Pope Benedict's visit to the UK has helped these Anglicans and convinced them of his sincerity and the warmth of the welcome he will give them.  Contrary to what the press maintains, Benedict is not poaching, but as a loving father opening the door even wider to help restore unity among Christians.  I also think Blessed John Henry is working in heaven and obtaining myriad graces for all concerned.

Whole Anglican parish in Kent also coming into the Church: see here.