Process for Anglican / Episcopal Priest to Catholic?

[FickleFreckled]

There are several Episcopal priests in our area who have recently expressed the desire to “align” with Rome. My question is, is there some technical difference between the term “align” and other terms that might have been used, such as “convert”, or is it just a political euphemism? The reason I ask is that there are different ways to be in union with Rome. We have a wonderful Anglican Rite RC Church, where the priest, his wife and the congregation became Catholic and have a dispensation to continue using the Anglican liturgy. We also have priests who were formerly Episcopal priests who are assigned to Catholic parishes. I don’t know the process or the terminology for these changes. There are also Orthodox churches that are in union with Rome, but are very different in culture, tradition and liturgy. Sorry if this is splitting hairs or a dumb question; just trying to understand the terminology and process.

 

[chris_molter]

The terminology IS confusing! It’s made moreso by the fact that some of it is used interchangeably!

The normal process in the US for an Episcopal Priest to come into full communion with the Catholic Church is via the Pastoral Provision

pastoralprovision.org/

With the continuing saga of the ACC and their high level talks regarding communion with Rome, there may be a modification or broadening of the scope of the Pastoral Provision.

I would imagine these 4 men would come into communion under this expanded program, depending on the timing and specifics.

There are several Episcopal priests in our area who have recently expressed the desire to “align” with Rome. My question is, is there some technical difference between the term “align” and other terms that might have been used, such as “convert”, or is it just a political euphemism?

It may just be a euphemism to downplay the fact that these men would have to be reordained in order to function as Catholic clergy. This is a difficult thing for many converty clergy to swallow.

The reason I ask is that there are different ways to be in union with Rome. We have a wonderful Anglican Rite RC Church, where the priest, his wife and the congregation became Catholic and have a dispensation to continue using the Anglican liturgy.

The Anglican Use liturgy is not actually the same as what these former Anglicans were using prior to them coming into full communion. There were some modifications made to the liturgy to clarify the theology, as well as adding certain prayers for the Pope, etc. But all in all, it’s a fantastic liturgy and I wish it were more widely used and available.

 

[FickleFreckled]

Thank you, Chris!

I don’t visit the Anglican Rite parish often; I always say I will, but it’s a good distance away. What I loved most about it was the Anglican Church music - Ralph Vaughn Williams, John Rutter, et al, which to me is the most inspirational church music on the planet.

 

[chris_molter]

I agree with you on the music. I’d love to see a parish that mixed that sort of inspirational music with traditional Gregorian and polyphonic chant! Unfortunately, I’ll have to suffer through “Gather Us In” and “Anthem” until the day I die, it seems.