Building bridges

It is “an occasion of great joy both for them and for the wider Church”. Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith thus defined the Ordination to the Priesthood of three former Anglican bishops, rev. Andrew Burnham, rev. John Broadhurst and rev. Keith Newton, who decided to avail themselves of the dispositions contained in the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum coetibus” of Benedict XVI and to enter in full communion with the Catholic Church. The Ordination took place on January 15 in London in Westminster’s Cathedral. The Mass was celebrated by archbishop Vincent Nichols on the same day when from Rome the Holy See announced that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a papal decree erecting a Personal Ordinariate within the territory of England and Wales for groups of Anglican faithful and their pastors wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. On the same day Pope Benedict XVI appointed rev. Keith Newton the first Ordinary. What it is. A “Personal Ordinariate” is a canonical structure enabling faithful who were originally members of the Anglican Communion to be in full communion with the Catholic Church preserving elements of their original Anglican tradition. With this structure, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus seeks to balance on the one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be fully integrated into the Catholic Church. In the press statement the Holy See explains: “For doctrinal reasons the Church does not, in any circumstances, allow the ordination of married men as Bishops”. However, the Apostolic Constitution does provide, under certain conditions, for the ordination as Catholic priests of former Anglican married clergy. It is the case of the new first Ordinary, rev. Keith Newton, married; he has three adult children. Together with Reverend Burnham and Reverend Broadhurst, Reverend Newton will oversee the catechetical preparation of the first groups of Anglicans in England and Wales who will be received into the Catholic Church together with their pastors at Easter, and to accompany the clergy preparing for ordination to the Catholic priesthood around Pentecost. In the statement, the Holy See points out, “the provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church”. A mutual exchange of gifts. As he was unable to personally attend the ordination of the former Anglican bishops, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, cardinal William Levada, sent a message to English Catholics explaining, among other things, that the new Ordinariate will be known as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and will be placed under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman. “Its establishment”, His Eminence continued, “marks a unique and historic moment in the life of the Catholic Community in this country”. “It is my fervent hope that, by enabling what the Holy Father calls “a mutual exchange of gifts from our respective spiritual patrimonies”, the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham will bring great blessings not only on those directly involved in it, but upon the whole Church”. In addressing all those who have decided to be in full communion with the Catholic Church the cardinal added: “In the midst of the uncertainty that every period of transition inevitably brings I wish to assure you all of our admiration for you, and of our prayerful solidarity”. A task to be fulfilled in wisdom. “I am humbled to have been appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, as the first Ordinary”. These are the opening words of the statement of Keith Newton, released after the papal appointment. “This is not an honour I have sought or expected but I pray that God will give me the wisdom and grace to live up to the trust the Holy Father has placed in me”. The new Ordinary then went on to address his wife and his family, and recalled “over 35 years of ordained ministry with tremendous gratitude” as “the Church of England nourished me in the Christian Faith and it was within her that I discovered, as a teenager, my vocation to the ordained ministry which has involved service both in England and Africa”. “I do not see my reception into the Catholic Church as a radical break but part of the on]going pilgrimage of faith which began at my baptism”. These concepts were reiterated during the press conference held Monday 17 in London, during which he underlined that “building bridges between Anglicans and Catholics” will be part of his duties. “I feel very strongly the responsibility of providing for Anglican faithful and priests who wish to join the Ordinariate”. According to British Catholic press, at the beginning of Lent at least 35 groups of Anglicans and 50 pastors will ask to join the Ordinariate in order to enter in full communion with the Catholic Church by Easter.