No. It is possible that the Anglican Church in certain jurisdictions could be reconciled, but the global Anglican Church is too fragmented, and parts of it too far gone from orthodoxy, for a wholesale reconciliation between Canterbury and Rome.I’ve been doing a bit of reading on ecumenical relations between the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church. And I was wondering what people’s thoughts were on the Ordinariates and whether it could be possible for a reconciliation between Rome and Canterbury? Could a strand of Anglicanism become a rite of the Church in the future?
Of course.Would it be desirable for reconciliation for the jurisdictions that haven’t strayed far from scripture and catholic doctrine?
Exactly – and the main reason I think it would be difficult. While there are Anglican communions which have kept orthodoxy on some issues, even the most conservative ones tend to still have bent on others (such as ACNA, which I’m a part of, which allows limited ordination of women). Canterbury is lost. The Church of England has completely made peace with secular sexual morality.Unfortunately, I agree with HopkinsReb. Just to name one issue, in the event of a reconciliation, what would become of Anglican communion female clergy and openly gay (sometimes partnered) clergy?
No diocese would go for reconciliation under the condition that it laicize a significant chunk of its clergy and bar them from communion. No way, no how.I suppose they’d probably have to be laicized and prevented from taking communion. I like to think on the positive side of things, and I like to think the Church could find a solution. Arguably it wouldn’t be a solution that would please everyone
That strand, to become a rite of the Catholic Church, would have to accept the authority of the Bishop of Rome, which would be in direct contradiction of the 39 Articles. It would be silly for them to call themselves “Anglicans.”A good friend of mine takes the position that within enough time and by numbers, there could be a strand of Anglicanism that finds itself as a rite of the Church. Me personally I’m not entirely sure on it. I think he’s coming from the point of view as an idealistic Catholic.
I think Benedict XVI made it abundantly clear that the Ordinariate is not going to gain any kind of independence such as the Maronite rite, for example, enjoys within the Catholic Church. The ordinariate exists to enable ordained Anglican clergy to become Catholic priests, but it cannot recruit or ordain priests of its own.Could a strand of Anglicanism become a rite of the Church in the future?
I’m confused then, why do they have a bishop that is the Ordinary for the Ordinariate who ordains priests? Their Cathedral, Our Lady of Walsingham, most certainly does have seminarians.The ordinariate exists to enable ordained Anglican clergy to become Catholic priests, but it cannot recruit or ordain priests of its own.
On the other hand, for God, nothing is impossible.No. It is possible that the Anglican Church in certain jurisdictions could be reconciled, but the global Anglican Church is too fragmented, and parts of it too far gone from orthodoxy, for a wholesale reconciliation between Canterbury and Rome.