A new path

“This Apostolic Constitution paves a new path for the promotion of Christian unity acknowledging at the same time the legitimate diversity in the expression of our common faith”. This is how the Vatican Press release introduced the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus” which provides for groups of Anglican faithful and pastors from across the world to enter in full communion with the Catholic Church whilst preserving traits of the specific spiritual and liturgical Anglican tradition by means of “Personal Ordinariates”. “This initiative did not originate in the Holy See – states the Note -. Rather, it is the Holy Father’s generous response to the legitimate aspiration of these Anglican groups. The establishment of this new structure is in harmony with the commitment for ecumenical dialogue that remains a priority of the Catholic Church”. Follow first reactions to the document. From the Vatican. “The Apostolic Constitution and the Complementary Norms issued by the Apostolic See – explained Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda, rector magnificus of the Pontifical Gregorian University in a note issued by the Holy See – with the envisaged establishment of Personal Ordinariates, clearly conveys the intention of fulfilling two needs: to “preserve the living spiritual, liturgical and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion, as a precious gift to nourish the faith and the rich tradition of its members”; and to promote the full integration of individuals, or of groups of faithful who are already part of Anglicanism, in Catholic Church life. “It is a mutual enrichment – the rector declared -.By entering in full Catholic communion Anglican faithful become the recipients of the rich spiritual, liturgical and pastoral tradition of the Roman Latin Church, integrating it with their own tradition, a source of further enrichment to the Roman Latin Church. On the other hand, this Anglican tradition, authentically received within the Roman Latin Church, constituted through Anglicanism one of the gifts of the Church of Christ that drove the faithful towards Christian unity”.In England. The text of the Constitution was rapidly issued in English by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. “I welcome the publication of the Apostolic Constitution and the Complementary Norms. This now makes clear the provision made by the Holy See and enables those who have made requests to the Holy See to study it in detail”, said archbishop Vincent Nichols, president of the bishops Conference. “It is important to remember that this is a response to requests made to the Holy See by Anglicans and former Anglicans from across the world. It is not a provision specifically for England and Wales and clearly there is much reflection to be done by all concerned”, he added. On the part of the Anglican Church the bishop of Guilford, Christopher Hill said that the Constitution and the Complementary Norms ought to be studied “carefully” by all those Anglicans who wish to enter in full communion with the Catholic Church in order to “consider their options”. “The Vatican response to certain requests from individuals and groups across the world does not deflect us from either the continuing mission of the Church of England in its parishes and dioceses throughout the land, or its longstanding commitment to seeking the unity of all the Churches, including the Roman Catholic Church,” he added.Future developments. “We will all need to meet and talk”, said the bishop of Fulham, John Broadhurst, commenting on the Apostolic Consitution. Bishop Broadhurst is the president of the movement “Forward in Faith” (FIF), the association that brings together within the Anglican Communion the most traditionalist fringes, that have always opposed the ordination of women and the decisions taken by a number of Anglican provinces of ordaining homosexuals. “What Rome has done is offer exactly what the Church of England has refused”, he claimed. “We all need now to ask the question ‘is this what we want?’ Now the question is: is it really what we want?”. Bishop Fulham said the Vatican proposal is “extremely impressive” although this is “a dangerous time for Christianity in this Country”. This situation, he said, “must not be used to damage the Church of England”. However, the doctrinal standard demanded by Rome “is the New Catechism which most of us use anyway”. This is why “We will all need to meet and talk”. The bishop said he hopes that this could take place in collaboration with the PEVs and other Catholic bishops. “That is something we need to work out together”, he concluded.