Hundreds of Anglicans to Join Catholic Church in England

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The largest British group of Anglicans yet has decided to join the Catholic Church through Pope Benedict XVI’s special ordinariate.

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Catholic_Press said:
The largest British group of Anglicans yet has decided to join the Catholic Church through Pope Benedict XVI’s special ordinariate.

More…
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Seven priests and 300 laypeople. Not exactly a stampede. The Anglican Communion, unlike the Roman Catholic church, has a lot of priests.
 
Nice article. It’s not a large number of people, but appears the church is growing a bit bigger.
 
Roselle said:
Not enjoyable to see people leaving the Anglican and joining the church because of females and gays
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Which is how it is widely seen both in Britain and here in Ireland. And a closer look at the background of the former Anglican bishops, now Catholic priests, would give plenty of support to this view.

Here’s a sample of the kind of satire doing the rounds at present. (Andy Gray was a sports commentator for SKY who made some sexist and derogatory remarks about a female assistant referee) Warning: this is satire!!!

ship-of-fools.com/features/2011/sky_sports_man_to_join_ordinariate.html
 
1234 said:
Seven priests and 300 laypeople. Not exactly a stampede. The Anglican Communion, unlike the Roman Catholic church, has a lot of priests.
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No, not a stampede. But its not as if the Catholic Church is starved for priests, either (despite all the hand-wringing you may read about.)

The article in the first post was based upon a BBC News article. This seems to have been it:
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12260569
 
Dale_M said:
No, not a stampede. But its not as if the Catholic Church is starved for priests, either (despite all the hand-wringing you may read about.)

The article in the first post was based upon a BBC News article. This seems to have been it:
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12260569
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It would appear that relative numbers of priests/bishops is disproportionately greater than the number of laity converting to the ordinariates. For ex, in the article it’s three new priests and 300 laity. One priest is sufficient in an ordinartiate for 300 laity. If this sort of ‘ratio’ is general, what are all the ‘surplus’ convert-priests going to do? They will have to become ‘regular’ RC priests serving the ‘regular’ RC laity.
 
1234 said:
It would appear that relative numbers of priests/bishops is disproportionately greater than the number of laity converting to the ordinariates. For ex, in the article it’s three new priests and 300 laity. One priest is sufficient in an ordinartiate for 300 laity. If this sort of ‘ratio’ is general, what are all the ‘surplus’ convert-priests going to do?
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The numbers do present a problem. However, its still early. According to the BBC article indirectly cited in the first post,Anglican converts will begin classes on becoming Catholic at the beginning of Lent. Since Ash Wednesday is on March 9th, that still gives additional people five weeks to consider joining.
1234 said:
They will have to become ‘regular’ RC priests serving the ‘regular’ RC laity.
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I imagine the priests wouldn’t be thrilled about that, if it were to take place on any kind of permanent basis. However, although the three former bishops (John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton) were fast tracked to ordination, I believe any additional Anglican clergy who convert will need to learn to become Catholic priests and that the first ordinations won’t happen until Pentecost (June 12th.) This might give time for numbers to even out.

How laity or clergy who want to join the ordinariate, but miss the Lenten classes, I’m not sure. I wouldn’t think they would be kept waiting until next year.
 
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