Beloved in Christ,
The news that has overtaken much of the Christian media (and a good bit of the secular as well) is the announcement from Rome that they are opening up a personal prelature for orthodox Anglicans. This would allow Anglicans to maintain much of their liturgy and custom, and for many of the Anglican clergy, it would offer the option of becoming a Roman Catholic priest.
The details are still sketchy, and much finally depends on the details, but there are clearly some trouble spots even for those Anglicans who are keen about the idea. Those clergy who were baptized and confirmed as Roman Catholics, then left Roman Catholicism for Anglicanism, were then ordained in Anglican orders, and are married, will probably find it difficult if not impossible to bring their Anglican orders into the new Roman Catholic option. In the past, married Anglican priests who were originally baptized and confirmed as Roman Catholics haven't been able to bring the orders and a wife into Rome. The issue is having a wife and a prior relationship with Rome.
Another sticking point is for married Anglican bishops who may wish to take advantage of this new option. Pending disclosure of the new rules and the small print, neither Eastern Orthodoxy nor Rome currently have married bishops, and haven't had for most of their history. Anglican bishops who are married and have no earlier sacramental relationship with Rome may only be able to take the new option as a priest.
The entire issue of orthodox Anglicans rejoining Roman Catholicism after nearly 500 years is one that some Anglican groups have been working on and promoting for some considerable time. The offer is, I think, a very welcome one for those who feel this is right for them. For other Anglicans, some of the remaining issues from the Reformation will dampen the enthusiasm for a reunion, but nevertheless, they see the offer as a positive move.
The one for whom this is not a positive development is the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is trying to hold together a rapidly fragmenting global Anglican Communion. His unwillingness to prune the heterodox Episcopal Church USA, or even to sanction them in an effective way, means that the theological and spiritual division that they are spreading will continue to divide the global Church. TEC, as they now prefer to be called, is exporting both deviant theology and money to conservative African Provinces, targeting dioceses that are vulnerable, and seeking out receptive congregations to plant their seeds of revisionism. Within the UK itself, Dr. Williams has division increasing, with revisionist bishops and clergy who look to Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori of TEC as the visionary, rather than Dr. Williams. The orthodox in England are increasingly distraught over the deteriorating situation, both in the UK and globally, and their willingness to speak and act boldly is increasing. While staying within the Church of England (CofE), many of them are preparing for asymmetrical responses that will put pressure on the system towards an orthodox direction.
In the past, Dr. Williams has seen GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference--held in Jerusalem in 2008) and FCA (Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans--an outgrowth of the GAFCON) as divisive, and has tried to neutralize the FCA, with his friends implying at times that FCA was somehow schismatic. Now, with Rome suddenly opening this new option, Rowan Williams has to contend with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and TEC on one flank, and the Pope himself on the other flank. I would suggest that it is difficult to fight on two fronts at once. It can certainly be done, but fighting on three fronts may exceed Dr Williams' available resources. Will he continue to push against FCA, or wake up and realize that the FCA is his logical ally? Granted that he will lose a portion of the Anglo-Catholics in England to the Pope's offer (and more if he doesn't provide some exclusionary provision when women bishops are actually a fact in the CofE), but his ability to forge a degree of unity will rest on at least making peace with the FCA and the Jerusalem Statement. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans could be the glue that gives cohesion based on historic Anglican understandings. The question is WWRD? (What will Rowan do?)
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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