Church Times - New Apostolic Constitution announced: Anglicans can join the Roman Catholic Church

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New Apostolic Constitution announced: Anglicans can join the Roman Catholic Church

20/10/2009 12:00:00

The following statement was made this morning: Joint Statement by The Archbishop of Westminster and The Archbishop of Canterbury

Today's announcement of the Apostolic Constitution is a response by Pope Benedict XVI to a number of requests over the past few years to the Holy See from groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and are willing to declare that they share a common Catholic faith and accept the Petrine ministry as willed by Christ for his Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony.

The announcement of this 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. It will now be up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution.

The Apostolic Constitution is further recognition of the substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition. Without the dialogues of the past forty years, this recognition would not have been possible, nor would hopes for full visible unity have been nurtured. In this sense, this Apostolic Constitution is one consequence of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

The on-going official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion provides the basis for our continuing cooperation. The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) agreements make clear the path we will follow together.

With God's grace and prayer we are determined that our on-going mutual commitment and consultation on these and other matters should continue to be strengthened. Locally, in the spirit of IARCCUM, we look forward to building on the pattern of shared meetings between the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Church of England's House of Bishops with a focus on our common mission. Joint days of reflection and prayer were begun in Leeds in 2006 and continued in Lambeth in 2008, and further meetings are in preparation. This close cooperation will continue as we grow together in unity and mission, in witness to the Gospel in our country, and in the Church at large.

+ Vincent + Rowan

Forward in Faith has posted a reaction: FiF reacts to Statement from Rome

News stories on the subject:

The Guardian: Roman Catholic church to receive Anglicans
Associated Press: Vatican creates new structure for Anglicans

"Anglicans can join the Roman Catholic Church" - were they not allowed to before?

berenike | 20/10/2009 14:59:33

This is valuable in opening the way to ordination of women bishops in the CofE, which was a certainty once we had women deacons, and I welcome it as it avoids fudges about women being almost-but-not-quite bishops. It would be in the interests of neither institution for one to fly apart acrimoniously.

Frugal Dougal | 20/10/2009 21:21:39

It would be wise to wait until we are able to read the 'Apostolic Constitution’ before making pronouncements. I note on the vatican webpage:
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY. ANGLICAN-CATHOLIC RELATIONS
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/angl-comm-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20080214_dialogue-anglicans_en.html
Also "The Pontifical Council looks forward to welcoming his successor, the Very Rev. (Anglican) David Richardson of Melbourne, Australia"

Dr Allen E Gale | 25/10/2009 03:58:01

PS Your heading "New Apostolic Constitution announced: Anglicans can join the Roman Catholic Church" only gives half the truth. You should have added "Without leaving the Anglican Church". Your heading implies dominance from the Vatican. The Master would surely weep; words words words!
Allen

Dr Allen E Gale | 25/10/2009 05:52:18

As a former Roman Catholic, worshiping in the Anglican Church, I am dismayed to see the reformed and wholly Catholic Church of England,with its wonderfully rich theological ,spirtual and liturgical tradition ,embrace and be embraced by an unreformed and the still heritical, unbiblical institutional Roman Church. As with the great Franciscan Movement the way Rome destroys is to embrace.

john noonan | 14/11/2009 21:36:03