A letter bearing the ‘unanimous’ signatures of the Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) – which held its plenary meeting in Portsmouth, England, the first week of October 2007 – was sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of faith requesting the Holy See union to the Church of Rome. A statement was released by the primate of the Tac, John Hepworth affirming that “The Bishops and Vicars-General unanimously agreed to the text of a letter to the See of Rome seeking full, corporate, sacramental union. The letter was signed solemnly by all the College and entrusted to the Primate and two bishops chosen by the College to be presented to the Holy See”. Archbishop John Hepworth announced that the letter “was cordially received at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith”. Given the delicate subject matter the Archbishop has agreed that “no member of the College will give interviews until the Holy See has considered the letter and responded.” The “Traditional Anglican Communion” is tied to the Anglican tradition but it is totally independent from the Anglican Communion led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. There are many differing positions: women ordination, homosexuality, traditions. It isn’t the first time that the TAC asks union with the see of Rome still maintaining the Anglican tradition. In the document, the TAC requests to be united as a “Church of Anglican rite ‘sui juris’ in communion with the Holy See”. For the past fifteen years this matter has been the object of much work but the time for a response from the Vatican has yet to come. In similar situations, it’s the local Catholic bishop who has to verify the plausibility of an individual’s request to become Catholic. Moreover, the general rule is that in difficult situations experienced in a Christian Confession – such is the case of the Anglican Communion – a person who takes a polemical stand vis à vis his own Confession is not accepted by the Catholic Church. The comments from London are blunt: “we are not the TAC. They are a separate group. They’re like the Lefevrians to the Catholic Church. It’s the same situation, they are not connected to us in any way. They’re not an official part of the Anglican Communion nor are they officially recognized by the Archbishop of Cantebury”, affirmed Canon James M Rosenthal, director of Communications.
