Roman Catholics Offer Warm Welcome to Anglicans Seeking Union with Rome
Episcopal News Service. December 8, 1993 [93119_Z]
The Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales have issued a statement opening the doors for Anglican clergy and even parish groups to seek union with Rome.
A few months ago the bishops said that Anglicans would be welcomed on an individual case-by-case basis but observers are saying that the Roman Catholics now see the potential for enriching the church and its evangelism efforts by the "integration of those who bring with them not only the traditions of English Anglicanism, but also its commitment to reach out to those who are on the margin of Christian living."
Archbishop of York John Habgood immediately issued a response in which he said that he and the archbishop of Canterbury shared the bishops' "concern for the pastoral care of those troubled by the Church of England's decision to ordain women to the priesthood as the General Synod's decision last week to approve the Episcopal Ministry Act shows. Each church has now indicated the arrangements it will make, and we look forward to working with our ecumenical partners in the Roman Catholic Church as we adjust to what will be a new situation for us both."
When asked if this meant a more prominent role for Roman Catholics in England, Cardinal Basil Hume at a news conference responded, "As we are not in the numbers game, so we are not in the power game." He did report that 156 individual Anglican priests had approached Roman Catholic bishops.
For the first time, the bishops indicated that they were considering steps that would make it easier for groups of Anglicans to move to Rome. The move could be a gradual one, for example, allowing the group to stay together, possibly even with their own Anglican priest, "while both he and they were being prepared for reception into communion with Rome." Each Roman Catholic bishop would be free to decide the timetable.
Hume emphasized that the eventual goal remained the total integration into the Roman Catholic community of those disaffected Anglicans. The bishops said that they are pursuing "with sympathy" the open question of married Anglican priests who seek Roman Catholic orders. It was clear that exceptions would be made to the celibacy rule but Hume said that it might be difficult to support a married clergy, especially those with families.
Although extending almost every courtesy, in the November 19 statement the bishops make it clear that re-ordination is necessary due to "residual doubts" about Anglican orders but they urged Anglicans to interpret the sacrament as "the fulfillment of their ministry and its full integration into the apostolic succession."
. The statement fueled speculation that Graham Leonard, former bishop of London, would become a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. "I must leave it to Rome to decide what to do with me," he told the press. Like many Anglican bishops throughout the Communion, bishops of the Old Catholic Church participated in Leonard's consecration -- and Old Catholic orders, unlike Anglican orders, have never been nullified by Rome.
"The possible reception of Dr. Leonard will be among the issues discussed in Rome," Hume said prior to a meeting at the Vatican to discuss the whole situation. "There has never been any question of his acting as a bishop in the Catholic Church," Hume added.
Following the December 3 meeting at the Vatican, the bishops issued a statement saying that "a full discussion took place of the issues involved in the developing situation in England. The delegation was able to inform the Holy See of its understanding and analysis of the present situation."
The December 4 statement said that "the Holy See expressed its appreciation for the manner in which the matters was being handled by the bishops of England and Wales." Pope John Paul II "expressed great interest in every aspect of the important developments which are taking place."