The Pope’s Invitation
Bishop Dominic answers some questions:
As someone with an interest in Canon Law, I have been intrigued by the Pope’s response to some Anglican ‘breakaway’ groups who have asked to be allowed to become Roman Catholics whilst retaining their Anglican heritage. Various people have asked me what this means for us in Wales and I’ll try to address this with some questions and answers.
What is going to happen?
The Pope plans to set up ‘Personal Ordinariates’ which will be a kind of ‘church within a church’ to welcome former Anglicans who will become full members of the Roman Catholic Church but allowed to retain their ‘Anglican patrimony’. The word ‘Ordinariate’ derives from the word ‘Ordinary’. The Diocesan bishop is the Ordinary (minister) in his diocese and clergy derive their authority to officiate from him.
Is this a new idea?
Not really. There are already Churches called ‘uniate’ churches (such as Greek, Armenian, Ukrainian, Coptic Catholics etc.) that have married priests and follow their own liturgy, dress and customs but are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. What the Pope is proposing is similar to that and to the arrangement they have with chaplains in the Armed Forces who come under the authority of the RC Bishop to the Armed Forces.
How will Anglicans make the change?
The RC Church will welcome individuals or groups of people (congregations, parishes, dioceses). They will need to be re-confirmed and received into the RC Church. Male Anglican priests, both married and single, will need to be re-ordained but bishops must be unmarried in keeping with the Catholic and Orthodox tradition. Priests who are widowered will not be allowed to remarry and single priests will not be allowed to marry after ordination.
What is Anglican patrimony?
Patrimony is what is distinctive about Anglicanism – our spirituality, liturgy and customs. It is not clear what this will mean in practice. Somewhat ironically, many Anglo-Catholics (although not in Wales) do not use Anglican liturgy or choir dress – they already follow RC usage!
Will they be Roman Catholics?
Yes, and they will be expected to accept RC teaching including the infallibility and universal jurisdiction of the Pope, marriage discipline and the ban on artificial contraception etc. They will come under the jurisdiction of their Ordinary (probably a bishop) and the Pope.
What will happen in Wales?
It may be that some individual priests and lay people will ask to be received into the RC Church but I think it is unlikely that whole congregations will wish to accept the Pope’s offer. If they do, it may be possible for the Representative Body to lease a church to them and to allow them to rent the vicarage and pay their own priest. They will need to be financially self-supporting. How it will develop in Wales remains to be seen and will obviously depend on how many decide to make the change, but I am not anticipating a great exodus!
Is the Pope’s initiative a good thing?
I think it is good for those former Anglicans who have already broken away and formed separate denominations because they can now join a mainstream Church. It will also be good for those who in conscience can accept all the teachings of the RC Church but also value their Anglican heritage. Nevertheless, there will be many who could not in conscience deny the validity of their ordination or the sacraments they have received or accept all the claims and teachings of Rome.
Will it harm ecumenical relationships?
I hope not, although it seems clear that the department at the Vatican that promotes Christian unity was not involved in this initiative; it has been produced by the department called the ‘Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’. Talks will continue between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and both Churches will remain committed to growing together in truth and love.
When will it happen?
I don’t know. As I write this, the full details have not yet been published in what is called ‘The Apostolic Constitution’. Next year, the Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales are due to meet with the Roman Catholic Bishops in Wales and I suspect that ‘The Apostolic Constitution’ will be on the agenda.