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Traditional Anglicans hope for Easter reunion
Nov. 10, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionOTTAWA -- The primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion said he hopes churches take action to enter into full communion with the Catholic church before Easter.
Archbishop John Hepworth said he reacted "with overwhelming joy" to the apostolic constitution published Nov. 9 establishing the structure for Anglicans to be in full communion with the Catholic church.
The archbishop described the constitution as "generous at every turn" in its description of the Anglican heritage, its dogmatic provisions and its pastoral language.
"We've been asked to show the rich heritage to the whole church, not just to ourselves," he said in an interview from Australia.
The Traditional Anglican Communion includes Anglican churches that have left the much larger Anglican Communion over the ordination of women and sexually active homosexuals as priests. The Traditional Anglican Communion is among the largest group of Anglicans likely to embrace the Vatican's action to welcome them into full communion with the church.
Hepworth expects a positive response from Traditional Anglican Communion member churches around the world. Already, the United Kingdom's Traditional Anglican Communion synod voted to accept the document prior to its publication. He said he has heard from churches around the world, describing their comments as "powerful messages that 'we want it and we want it as soon as we can get it.'"
Hepworth has delivered a timetable to Traditional Anglican Communion bishops involving a series of regional and national synods starting early in 2010.
"I want all the votes in by Lent," Hepworth said. "Then I'm hoping in fact our bishops can meet in Rome after Easter and present the 'yes' votes and take advice on what to do next."
While Hepworth wants to move fast, he said the structure outlined in the apostolic constitution does not require anyone to rush headlong into it. "There's no deadline; it's available way into the future," he said.
"If [the pope] deals with other groups as creatively and as warmly and pastorally as he has dealt with us, he is the pope of [Christian] unity," Hepworth said.
The primate described the personal ordinariate structure established in the apostolic constitution -- which offers the jurisdiction of a diocese without being tied to a geographical area -- as "radical."
"It's a modern church structure that the rest of the church in fact will have to consider," he said. It also paves the way for other groups to come into communion corporately.
The two issues likely to draw the most media attention in the document are the provisions for married priests and for married bishops to potentially serve in the new structure.
The norm is clerical celibacy, he said, but there is a provision for married men to be ordained on a case-by-case basis approved by the Holy See, Hepworth said.
"It will be done according to the norms developed by the ordinariate and the bishops' conferences and submitted to the Holy See for approval," he said.
"Without married priesthood into the future, it would be very difficult at this stage to sustain the Anglican ordinariate into the future," he added. "We Anglicans going into communion with the Holy See are going to have to deepen our understanding of the celibate priesthood."
This is a truly immoral sham.
This is a truly immoral sham. The Pope invites other Christians (Anglicans) into full communion because they devalue women (no ordination to the priesthood or consecration as bishops) and because they devalue homosexual persons (in a committed relationship while serving as priests and bishops). Truly immoral reasoning that will come back to bite them in their collective behinds. This thinking established a reason to "hate" and "disenfranchise" others, both traits are the antithesis of everything Christ stands for. In the end, my guess is that very few in number will actually make this transition to Rome. The real reasons for this entire crossover to Rome are becoming so clear and ugly that it will damage the Church of Rome in the eyes of Christian and non-Christian around the globe. Ignorance and hatred are the worst reasons to denounce one religion and take up another religion. This is fooling no one but those who have been blinded by hatred.
Actually the Holy Father
Actually the Holy Father invites other Christians who believe what the Church teaches into full communion. Those who believe that ordination is a free gift given by God to certain men (not all men or women) that He has chosen and makes known to the Church through discernment, and those who believe that homosexuals are called to lives of celibacy are welcomed!
The Church has taught consistently throughout its nearly 2000 year history what it teaches now, that women cannot be ordained priests (or deacons or bishops) and that homosexuality, while not sinful in and of itself, becomes gravely sinful when homosexual persons practice that lifestyle, particularly in a sexual manner (just as it is gravely sinful for any unmarried person to engage in sexual activity outside marriage). Just because modern sensibilities are offended by this perception of "intolerance", that is not a reason to negate 2000 years of belief and doctrine and teaching.
You are correct though in that ignorance and hatred are immoral. I would therefore challenge you to overcome ignorance by learning what the Church really teaches (as opposed to what you want, or hope, it teaches). In so doing, you might find that you have overcome the hatred of the Church as well!
I don't see how you can read
I don't see how you can read devaluation of women and gays into the pope's proposal. I think you're a victim of your own unfettered ideological phantasies, which have been artificially stimulated by outside forces. Yes, I think you have been profoundly manipulated, even though you think you're speaking in your own behalf. This is always the case when ideological passions and language runs hot. You're being used. Think of the French Revolution or read Dostoyevsky, and you'll see what I mean.
This is a great repudiation
This is a great repudiation of liberal, deconstructionist Christianity. This is not about hatred at all. And those like Christ Smith (comments above) who continue to spread lies about the motives of these good people (the traditional Anglicans) and our saintly Holy Father are the real "haters."
God bless Benedict XVI, Pope of Christian Unity.
To the traditional Anglicans - Welcome Home. Despite what you read in the NCR, we are glad to have you aboard the barque of Peter.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I'm all for the bigger
I'm all for the bigger umbrella! Maybe we can form an Ordinariate for those Catholics who want to keep Paul VI's Novus Ordo...before the "reform of the reform" arrived. If the Anglican's and Lefebrites can have it their way, why not those who form a "stable group" with an "attachment" for the true liturgical reforms of Vatican II as found in the present Novus Ordo! The new translation of the Roman Missal is a disaster waiting to happen!
Clint: The Church "HAS NEVER
Clint: The Church "HAS NEVER taught CONSISTENTLY" DURING ITS' TWO THOUSAND YEAR HISTORY! The opposite is true. It has changed its' teachings so many times as centuries pass into new centuries that very few teachings of the original Church of the apostles remain. Vatican II tried to renew and reform. It continues to do so. The present structure, with the Bishop of Rome as an imperial king is the opposite of what Christ intended. Those Anglicans who cross over the river to Rome do indeed feel women are inferior and should not be ordained as priests and bishops. Their hatred, like the poster in this thread called "Byzshawn" also includes the devaluation of gay and lesbian people as well. There is no love in these posts by reactionary right wing thinkers. Read their words and you will find no love. You will find scorn. There is only EXCLUSION and HYPOCRISY. Christ invited all people to His table and there is not one theological argument that can be made to deny women the priesthood or office of bishop. The same applies to the inclusive love Christ has for gay and lesbian people. They too, have a seat at His table. The days of the imperial Roman model of the Latin Rite Church are nearing an end. I realize you are impressed by the Imperial Roman model, but it does not remotely reflect the Church that Christ intended. I do not say this to demean your yearning for a Church that reflects the thinking expressed at the Council of Trent. The People of God are no longer living in ignorance and subservience to a model of Church that really reflects the last days of imperial Rome. That train has left the station.
Actually Chris Smith, I
Actually Chris Smith, I studied in France and in Europe for a couple Semesters.
The Ones that are PRacticing Catholics in France are those who attend the Traditional LAtin MAss. Young French Catholics filled the PEws every Sunday while Gregorian Chant is filling the Background.
TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC RELIGOUS ORDERS ARE GROWING while Progressive Catholic Orders are dying out and will die in 10 years.
Young Swedish Intellectuals are converting to Catholicism in Sweden due to the LAtin MAss.
I went to Stockholm Cathedral and The LAtin MAss was filled with Young Swedish men and women all under 30!
As far as I know the Basic core of our Catholic Faith like JEsus is Truly PResent in the Eucharist and our Blessed Virgin Mary is still our Mother.
There are still seven sacraments in the Church so nothing changed!
Where in Vatican II did you find all this? Have you read Vatican II, show me where gay marraige is accepted?
The MAss is Sacrifice to God who has given us his son. Gays are caLLED TO HOLINESS LIKE EVERY CATHOLIC!
The CAtholic Faith was the inspiration of the Founding of the Universities like in PAris, OXford, and University of Salamanca.
The Catholic Church made contribution to Canon LAw, International LAw, Culture, ARt, Music and Architecture.
IRish Monks and Benedictine Monks build Western Europe while copying LAtin and Greek Manuscripts and PReserved Ancient Hellenistic Writings.
The Monastaries like Cleer Creak in Oklahoma are found by Benedictine Monks who celebrate the LAtin MAss and need bigger room because of a huge vocation crisis!
Traditional CAtholic Monasticism is growing in France,Germany and Sweden as many Young Catholics express to celebrate the LAtin MAss.
I live and studied in Europe for 2 years and I can Say its happening. The Monastic Tradition saved the Church and Civilization it will do so again!
Vive le France!
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