This latest development, which I addressed briefly yesterday, is even more remarkable as I read and think about its ramifications.
First, contrary to what some parishioners said to me this morning, this does not mean there will be a large scale movement of American Episcopalians into the Catholic Church. That will likely never happen, at least not as a result of the particular Apostolic Constitution announced yesterday. Most American Episcopalian congregations are very happy not being Catholic and are comfortably situated in probably the most "liberal" wing of the Anglican Church. Considering that the American Episcopalians have ordained large numbers of women priests and also have at least one actively homosexual bishop among their ranks, I don't think we'll be seeing many of these folks knocking on Rome's door.
There are, however, some traditionalist Anglicans in the US and elsewhere who will likely respond positively to the Vatican's offer. Indeed, this move by Rome was actually in response to a petition by the Traditional Anglican Communion (the TAC has 400,000 members worldwide) to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. There are also many other disaffected Anglicans who might well join their TAC friends and enter the Church either individually or as a parish community.
No doubt mainstream Anglicans will welcome the departure of all traditionalist and conservative (i.e., orthodox) Anglicans who have been a thorn in the Anglican Church's collective side for some time now. The mainstream -- that is, the majority liberals -- have, through their increasingly "progressive" policies, effectively closed the door on any sort of reunion with Catholicism. And so, it will probably suit them well if those who disagree with them leave, even if they leave for Rome.
Click here to read today's response by the Traditional Anglican Communion.
Click here to read some interesting insights by Fr. Dwight Longenecker, a former Anglican (and now a Catholic) priest. Or you can read even more by Fr. Longenecker on his excellent blog: Standing on my Head. He's a lot smarter and much more eloquent than I.
Interesting times we live in. God's peace...
The occasional, often ill-considered thoughts of a Roman Catholic permanent deacon who is ever grateful to God for his existence. Despite the strangeness we encounter in this life, all the suffering we witness and endure, being is good, so good I am sometimes unable to contain my joy. Deo gratias!
Although I am an ordained deacon of the Catholic Church, the opinions expressed in this blog are my personal opinions. In offering these personal opinions I am not acting as a representative of the Church or any Church organization.
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