There is little clarity yet on either side. The Vatican has not spelled out the conditions of the “Apostolic Constitution” to accept Anglicans who want to join Catholicism while maintaining some of their own traditions. Additionally, there are varied faces of Anglicanism, which in its dogmas and practices stands somewhere between Roman Catholicism and Protestant traditions such as the Lutheran or Reformed churches. This will clearly take a while to work out.
The spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, played down any problems when the offer was announced. But several reactions from Anglicans to Tuesday’s announcement, including from some inclined to make the switch, have begun to trace the outlines of the looming doctrinal debates among Anglicans worldwide and between the Vatican and Anglicans knocking at its door.
Bishop Donald Harvey, moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), posted a succinct summary of sticky issues on his group’s website….
The devil in the details is clear if you read the official statement by the Congregation for the Development of the Faith. It always is cleverly clear to point out that the ordinariate is for “former Anglicans”-it never says current Anglicans if you read it closely.
Let’s see what the initial ground rules are before discernment begins.
Speculation is a fear monger’s best friend.
Intercessor
Archer,
Whoever takes advantage of the Apostolic Ordinariate will of course no longer be an Anglican, as in a member of a separate Anglican church of communion. Rather, he will be an Roman Catholic with certain of his Anglican traditions accorded respect and place by the church.
Should be “or” communion. Sorry.