The pastoral provision exists only in the United States and nowhere else.
Theoretically true, but in fact, most TAC members are very Anglo-Catholic, which is why they formed as they did, and most are probably more Catholic than most Roman Catholics today. Most evangelicals in Continuing Church bodies are not in the TAC.
Not sure where you heard that they went with demands, but there honestly has been little or no growth in the AU provision, as it was intended to address the specific need of specific groups, and not really to be something that was intended to be offered to all and grow, in the sense that the EF is. Ten years ago AU was offered at ten locations; now it is seven.
pastoralprovision.org/Parishes.html
I was an Anglo Catholic before becoming a Catholic and many of the people in the parish were not true to all things Catholic, they liked the church itself as it was beautiful, they liked the liturgy, but those were what was important to them. I can’t speak for all Anglo Catholics, but can only go by my experience.
There is also a new parish in Arizona called St. Pauls. Yes it has been a slow growth, but that is due to many of our Bishops who don’t want the AU parishes. As we know for some reason some Bishops and some priests don’t like the TLM either and it has not been easy for those parishes that want the Traditional Mass to have it.
If you want accurate information on the Pastoral Provision, it is best to inquire from the priests that are in it or go to the Bishop who is in charge of the Pastoral Provision.
Not all TAC members are Anglo Catholic, as a former Anglo Catholic there were few parishes that considered themselves Anglo Catholic. I had to travel many miles to attend one.
I am very aware that outside of the US the Pastrol Provision doesn’t exist. There are problems in England that we didn’t have here. But if it is in God’s plan for this to be an entity in the Church it will be. To be honest I know very few Epsicopalians or Catholics that have ever heard of the Pastoral Provision. Also some Catholics aren’t aware of the Traditional Mass.
All good things take time and I know that some Bishops who have allowed for AU parishes, who I am sure had doubts about it, have become much more open.
I don’t know why there appears to be so much adverse reaction to newer liturgies and older ones coming into the Church. My priest had never heard of the Pastoral Provision before he and I a long conversation.
I was not brought up in an Anglo Catholic parish, but in a very low church setting and when you say that Anglo Catholics are more Catholic than Catholics I don’t find this to be accurate. Yes the appearances of the liturgy and the building look more Catholic than than modern day Catholic Churches and the liturgies, but it is what is internal in a person’s heart that is truely and completely Catholic not the externals. I don’t know your background, were you an Anglo Catholic at one time? When our parish went to Rome to ask for the Pastoral Provision, (our parish was known as the most “Catholic” of most in our area) there were many who did not want to become Catholics under the Pope. They just wanted to stay where they were and wanted no changes. They are still there as the ones who wanted to become Catholic left and were rejectedto have an AU parish by a very liberal Cardinal so I have been through the whole gambit. Our rejection did not weaken my faith in the Catholic Church. Who knows what will happen with TAC, I hope that Rome will find a way to bring the people who want to accept the doctrines of the Church into the Church, but we must realize that we don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.
The Eastern Rite Catholics have had their struggles too and they were Catholic to begin with. I also know Catholics who have never heard of Eastern Rite Catholics. I think we all live in our own little world and many of us don’t know what goes on outside of it.
For me I feel that I am home whether it is an AU parish or not. Of course I pray for the day when there will be an AU parish close to me, if it doesn’t happen I still feel that the Lord has me where He wants me and I am very happy to be in Christ’s Church.
God Bless you.
Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Bernadette
