The Anglican vicars, father and son, who became Catholic priests

[cathopologist]

In what is believed to be a “first” in the modern era, two former Anglican priests, father and son, have become Roman Catholics and are now both serving as Catholic priests in the UK.

And in a further ecclesiastical twist, Father Dominic Cosslett, 36, and his father, Father Ron Cosslett, 70, are both serving in the same archdiocese under the leadership of Archbishop Vincent Nichols in Birmingham, the favourite to succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Archbishop of Westminster when he steps down early next year. [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)Father Dominic, formerly an Anglican priest, at the Church of Christ the King & Our Lady of Lourdes, Coventry, was ordained by Archbishop Nichols on Saturday 20 December. Fr Ron Cosslett, aged 70, also a former Anglican priest, was ordained as a Catholic priest by the Archbishop of Birmingham on July 3, 2005. He is now priest-in-charge at St Joseph’s, Darlaston in the West Midlands. [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)Father Dominic, who is not married, has from a young age felt called to a celibate lifestyle. “Although as an Anglican marriage was open to me the way I live my life is naturally a celibate one,” he told The Times. His mother converted five years ago at the same time as his father and his sister and their children followed them over about a year ago. [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)Father and son concelebrated, celebrating the Eucharist at the older Father’s parish, for the first time at Christmas. “Both of us were in the Catholic tradition of Anglicanism,” said Father Dominic. "Like a lot of us in that tradition, we had always felt the Catholic Church was the rock from which we were hewn. It was always part of our journey, our faith, to seek unity with Rome. We came to the point where we felt we could not exercise our understanding of Catholicism within Anglicanism. It was time for us to go home. " [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)Under the guidelines agreed in the Catholic Church for the reception of Anglican clergy who wish to become Catholic priests, Father Dominic, who studied theology and Lampeter and trained for the Anglican priesthood at the high church Mirfield College of the Resurrection before being priested in 1997, underwent a shortened training as to be a Catholic priest. He spent a year in the Spain at the Royal English College at Valladolid and then went to seminary at St Mary’s Oscott.

Cont’d

 

[cathopologist]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5413023.ece

As an Anglican, he served his curacy in Abergavenny in the Monmouth diocese when his bishop was Dr Rowan Williams, now Archbishop of Canterbury. He moved to his own parish in the Birmingham diocese when its bishop was Dr John Sentamu, now Archbishop of York. He speaks highly of both men, but neither was enough to make him stay. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5413023.ece

"I realised my own journey was to seek unity with Rome. Balanced with that was the awareness that the Anglican Church was going in a very different direction with various decisions it was making. I just felt I could not agree with those decisions. It comes down to authority. As an Anglican, it was sometimes very difficult. One parish might believe one thing. Another might believe something else. [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)“There is an incredible rainbow of thought in the Anglican Church. Perhaps I was looking more for a central authority of teaching that the Catholic Church has. It was something I had always been looking for.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5413023.ece
He recognises his situation, with his father as a priest, might appear unusual to some but for him it feels normal. There is a long tradition in the Anglican church of father-and-son priests. The ministry often runs in families. [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)Asked whether he believes all Catholic priests should be allowed to marry, he said: “That is not my decision. The teaching of the Church is there. The Holy Father has graciously allowed those who are former Anglicans who are married to become priests. The teaching remains the same and that is certainly not for me to comment on.” [

](The Times & The Sunday Times)But he was careful to emphasise that his new path was not a reaction against Anglicanism. "Becoming a Catholic is not so much about being disatisfied with being an Anglican as about having a positive engagement with the Catholic Church. I am very grateful for my Anglican days. But I realised there is something else in the Catholic Church. That is very much what lay behind my decision."

 

[cathopologist]

How do the Anglican laity react to such news? Do they see this as a sign to return to the apostolic, Catholic Church or do they feel such Anglican priests are merely being fickle-minded?

 

[mercygate]

How do the Anglican laity react to such news? Do they see this as a sign to return to the apostolic, Catholic Church or do they feel such Anglican priests are merely being fickle-minded?

There is no single response to this. So many Anglicans are on the same journey themselves, that they take heart from these conversions and ordinations. Others, like our friend, SIA (a former Catholic, I believe), who posts on these forums, are such rabid Protestants that they can hardly compute the phenomenon.

 

[Genesis315]

Thanks for posting this!

One thing though: did I read it right that one was at an Anglican church named for Our Lady of Lourdes?

 

[cathopologist]

Thanks for posting this!

One thing though: did I read it right that one was at an Anglican church named for Our Lady of Lourdes?

I think it meant to say the priest was formerly Anglican (then at Christ The King Catholic Church) and at Our Lady of Lourdes.

His profile can be found here:
ctk-cov.org.uk/ (See First Mass of Fr Dominic Cosslett 21/12/8)

 

[cathopologist]

There is no single response to this. So many Anglicans are on the same journey themselves, that they take heart from these conversions and ordinations. Others, like our friend, SIA (a former Catholic, I believe), who posts on these forums, are such rabid Protestants that they can hardly compute the phenomenon.

I have read some of his rhetoric in the forum. Sometimes i do empathize with him though - he hardly understands what he is fighting against. I have read better arguements from other Protestants. They disagree but still maintain a level of professionalism.

What do Anglicans/Episcopalians like ‘Edwin’ think of this article?

 

[BrianH]

I would imagine they would react like I would if it were a Methodist father/son. I would wish them the best and respect their choice.

 

[GKC]

How do the Anglican laity react to such news? Do they see this as a sign to return to the apostolic, Catholic Church or do they feel such Anglican priests are merely being fickle-minded?

Can’t answer for all Anglicans, on this or any other matter. But my reaction is none of the above. As I always say, any Anglican who feels the need to go to Rome, and has no problem with any of the Roman particulars, should make the move. It’s a move from one part of the apostolic Church, to another. I say the same for any wanting to become Orthodox.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[cathopologist]

It’s a move from one part of the apostolic Church, to another. I say the same for any wanting to become Orthodox.

Rome doesn’t recognize the Church of England to have valid apostolic claims. Despite occuring recent news of mass conversions, you still believe you have no need to return to Rome Sweet Home? May i know your reasons?

 

[MelanieAnne]

As a former Episcopalian, now Catholic, this is a welcome story to me. I pray that the rest of my Episcopalian/Anglican brothers and sisters “come home” as I did.

The fullness of truth and the genuine Eucharist lives in our Church.

 

[GKC]

Rome doesn’t recognize the Church of England to have valid apostolic claims. Despite occuring recent news of mass conversions, you still believe you have no need to return to Rome Sweet Home? May i know your reasons?

Yep. I know what Rome says. *Apostolicae Curae * has been a hobby of mine for years. And the opinion on the validity of orders, and apostolic succession, applies to Anglicanism in general, though in 1896, that was almost synonyomus with the CoE. And it is something that I always remind any RCs I talk to that they should affirm, at least as sententia ad fidem pertinens, if not more so. But it cannot surprise you that Anglicans have a different view of the matter (so to speak). And given that, no, I have no need to seek apostolic succession, valid orders, or a validly confected eucharist, or other sacraments. I have that where I am. Sure, you should say otherwise.

As to mass conversions (passing over the possible pun), if you mean that there are many folks who are leaving the Anglican communion for Rome (or perhaps some Orthodox venue), that is all to the good, in so far as contemporary official Anglicanism, by seeking to include invalid matter in the sacerdotal priesthood/episcopate, is making *Apostolice Curae * a premature, but prescient and currently increasingly accurate judgment. When I find Anglican folks, still in the Anglican Communion, who are unhappy with it, I urge them to leave, forthwith. And if Rome is in their future, I urge them over the river, posthaste.It is best to be in the apostolic succession, and in the presence of valid sacraments. As I am.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[cathopologist]

Hey thanks, GKC for your comment. I wasn’t trying to patronize you but i do apologize if it came across that way. I won’t argue with you over this matter but i am simply curious, how do you, as an Anglican deal with the many split issues your church is facing? For example, the issue over homosexual priests and bishops or women priests and bishops? Where do you stand?

 

[GKC]

Hey thanks, GKC for your comment. I wasn’t trying to patronize you but i do apologize if it came across that way. I won’t argue with you over this matter but i am simply curious, how do you, as an Anglican deal with the many split issues your church is facing? For example, the issue over homosexual priests and bishops or women priests and bishops? Where do you stand?

Outside the Anglican Communion, the only place an orthodox Anglican can stand.

You know of the Anglican Continuum, maybe? Also known as Continuing Anglicans? I’m one such.

Not in communion with Canterbury, over little things like you mention. Started back around 1978, over liturgical issues, mainly.

You may have heard of the Traditional Anglican Communion, which either is, or isn’t in negotiations with Rome, for something or other. They are one of the Continuing Anglican groups. In this country they are the Anglican Church in America. Not my group, but similar. There are lots of such groups. Way too many.

And there are myriads of other Anglican splits and divisions, still in some form of communion wioth Canterbury, looking for a modus vivendi.

Nope, I wasn’t feeling patronized. If I didn’t invite questions, I wouldn’t be so often on RC boards like this. Been doing it for maybe 8-9 years. I rarely argue; that would imply I was trying to change someone’s mind. I do discuss, though.

Pax.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus