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Catholic Church to allow ordination of married former Anglican priests
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Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (left); Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols (right)
On Tuesday, October 20, Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, announced to the press that the Catholic Church is easing the path for Anglicans wishing to convert to Catholicism--including married Anglican priests. According to Cardinal Levada, the Catholic Church is "responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion."
Cardinal Levada explained that Pope Benedict XVI has approved an Apostolic Constitution introducing a new structure that will allow former Anglicans "to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony." Toward this end, groups of converted Anglicans may join a Catholic Church headed by a former Anglican priest, who will integrate certain Anglican rites and traditions consistent with Catholicism.
Most surprising is the announcement that the Catholic Church will allow married former Anglican clergy to be ordained as Catholic priests. However, Levada did clarify that "historical and ecumenical reasons" prevent the ordination of married men as bishops in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
In a joint declaration, Catholic Archbishop Vincent Gerard Nichols of Westminster and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury affirmed that the announcement of the Apostolic Constitution "brings to an end a period of uncertainty for such groups who have nurtured hopes of new ways of embracing unity with the Catholic Church." In the past, Pope John Paul II had allowed several married Anglican priests to convert and remain in the clergy. Today's announcement from the Vatican provides for such conversion to happen in a more structured way.
King Henry VIII declared the Church of England independent from Rome in the 16th century. In recent years, thousands of conservative Anglicans in England, the United States, and Australia have become disenchanted with their 80-million-strong Church, due to its position on female clergy and homosexuality. According to the Telegraph, Pope Benedict's act deals "a serious blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has tried to keep traditionalists in the fold despite their bitter disputes with liberals over the direction of the Anglican Communion, although he denied it was an 'act of aggression.'”
For the Catholic Church, this influx of new adherents may prove to be a double-edged sword. While they may share the conservative positions of the Catholic Church when it comes to homosexuality and the ordination of women priests, having married priests leading Catholic masses may reinforce liberals' arguments against the celibacy requirement for clergy members.
For more info: See TIME.com or The Telegraph.
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