Disillusioned by the pro-homosexual, feminist trend within pockets of Anglicanism, clergy and laity of the Church of England, and the Anglican Church in Australia, are joining the Ordinariate - a special structure established by the Pope - while the liberal insurgents within the Catholic Church grumble.
-- From "Vatican Welcomes First Anglicans Converting Under New Rules" by Rachel Donadio, New York Times 1/25/11
The Vatican angered many Anglicans, including the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, when it announced the new structure in October 2009, because it appeared to upend decades of interfaith dialogue by implying that the Roman Catholic Church sought to encourage the conversion of Anglicans, especially those uncomfortable with the Church of England’s ordination of women and openly gay priests.
In the first concrete result of the Vatican’s offer, the archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, presided . . . over the conversions of three traditionalist Anglican bishops at Westminster Cathedral in London, the Vatican said in a statement.
The new structure, called a Personal Ordinariate, allows groups of Anglicans to convert while preserving some elements of Anglican liturgy and other traditions, including in some cases married clergy.
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From "The faithful lose in this victory for misogyny" editorial posted at U.K. Guardian 1/16/11
The [British] Catholic leader Archbishop Vincent Nichols tried at the [recent ordination of three former Anglican bishops as Catholic priests] to make the best of an arrangement with which he is privately thought to be uncomfortable. But however it is dressed up, this was the Catholic church fixated on stealing a march on Anglicanism. It is as if the Reformation was a recent score to be settled.
The establishment of a special ordinariate where former Anglicans who reject women's ordination can carry on much as before, but within the Catholic fold, can only cause tension between the two churches. That in its turn will focus attention once again on disputes between different branches of Christianity, and make religion look out of touch with the real world.
. . . Many British Catholics who want no part of this game of ecclesiastical power politics are left despairing. Those of other faiths or none, and of even moderately enlightened disposition, will be more inclined to turn their backs in anger.
To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.
From "Former Anglicans could share old churches, says head of Ordinariate" posted at London Telegraph 1/18/11
In some of his first comments since being appointed “Ordinary” – the leader of the world’s first Personal Ordinariate – Fr [Keith] Newton said he hoped his group could share properties with the Church of England in “specific places”.
His suggestion is likely to be controversial because, while old churches in England belonged to Rome before the Reformation, many Anglicans believe that those who “cross the Tiber” have given up all right to use them. In most cases, the Catholic Church is expected to have to provide new buildings for the Ordinariate to use.
The possibility of church-sharing in London, where many Anglo-Catholics live and worship, has already been ruled out by the city’s powerful bishop, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that “working out shared use of churches” will be a “challenge” of the new scheme.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Dissident Anglicans step closer to Rome" by Leesha McKenny, The Sydney Morning Herald 1/29/11
Up to 50 clergy and laity will gather for the first time nationally at St Stephen's College at Coomera for three days from Tuesday to discuss the Australian Anglican ordinariate - the local framework which will allow them to keep their married clergy, liturgy and church structures within Catholicism.
The prominent Sydney barrister John McCarthy, QC, has been briefed to advise the main dissident group of conservatives, the breakaway Traditional Anglican Communion, on constitutional and legal issues arising from the historic move.
The world Traditional Anglican Communion Primate, Adelaide-based Archbishop John Hepworth, was confident the group's assets, such as properties or trust funds, would not be forfeited once the ordinariate becomes official later this year. But he conceded in the case of assets owned by the mainstream Anglican communion it would be a question of "goodwill".
The re-ordination of four Australian Traditional Anglican Communion bishops, a retired Anglican bishop, a Japanese bishop and 24 Anglican priests is expected to be finalised by June 12.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Benedict the Ecumenist" by John Gerardi, The Daily Caller 1/30/11
. . . liberalism infected the Church of England so much that its teachings changed at exactly the same pace as the dominant culture changed. It was the first Christian body to accept the morality of contraception, at the 1930 Lambeth Conference. It shifted its positions on the all-male priesthood, and then (in the Episcopal Church, and soon in the Church of England) on the all-male episcopate, breaking with nearly 2,000 years of Christian practice. Many Anglicans have even come to accept the morality of abortion and the blessing of homosexual unions; the Episcopal Church even went so far as to embrace the openly homosexual Eugene Robinson as a bishop in good standing.
For the past 45 years, Catholics have been involved in ecumenical discussions with this increasingly liberal group through the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), in attempts to foster greater “unity” between the two bodies. . . .
Cardinal Ratzinger was not very enthusiastic about these fake shows. He put a stop to the worst of these “joint statements,” a ludicrous betrayal of the Catholic faith known as the ARCIC Final Report. . . .
Fast-forward to 2009. At the urging of sizable groups of Anglicans who truly desired unity with the Catholic Church but wished to preserve some aspects of their Anglican identity, Pope Benedict issued Anglicanorum Coetibus, a legislative document that would facilitate the conversion of Anglicans to the Church on a corporate level.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Click headlines below to read previous articles:
Episcopal Church: Ordaining and 'Marrying' Homosexuals
As Homosexualists Enter, the Sacred Leave Episcopal Church
American Anglicans Ratify Constitution
Who Owns Church Property in ECUSA?
Episcopal Diocese Boots Christian Congregation from Building in Favor of Muslims
