A row has broken out behind the Vatican walls over the “confusion” surrounding Pope Benedict XVI’s opening to disaffected Anglicans, according to a papal biographer.
Andrea Tornielli, the biographer of several modern Popes including Pope Benedict, said that just over a week after its existence was revealed by the Vatican, the text of the Apostolic Constitution laying down the conditions for the creation of a new “Anglo-Catholic” section of the Church was still not ready for publication.
This was not because of translation problems but “something more serious”, Mr Tornielli said. There was still debate behind the scenes over priestly celibacy, the “most sensitive point for public opinion”.
I figured that there might be different treatment for future priests. If this is the case then I wonder if it will be a deal-stopper.
Well, I expected a provision for already ordained priests along the following lines: Married priests can come over and become priests in the Catholic Church, but those who are not married, or who become unmarried (by death or divorce) may not marry. I would have also expected a provision that future priests would be celibate.
After all, the invitation appears to be a way to smooth the path to becoming Catholic, not simply to provide a new umbrella for Anglicanism (in North America, at least, there is ACNA for that). And priestly celibacy has been a discipline of the Catholic Church in the West for so long, I would not expect that to be dropped precipitiously.
[i]”It was left unclear however whether Anglican seminarians who were either married or who wished to get married before being ordained would also be admitted to the Catholic Church. [/i]
This doesn’t make any sense. They’d be admitted as a single/married lay person to begin with and if they’re yet to be ordained in the CoE or TEC they’d be eligible for the Catholic priesthood if single and not eligible if already married. As I understand it the Pastoral Provision only applies to those already ordained in the CoE or TEC, not their seminarians.
Which, in itself, raises the question as to whether the original Pastoral Provision was such a good idea. It might have been better simply to absorb married clergy into the permanent diaconate.
After all, if the accepted wisdom remains that Anglican orders cannot be recognized, then there’s no justification for treating ordained Anglicans who convert as anything other than single/married lay persons and acting accordingly.
What happens in the Eastern Rite churches?? This is not rocket science.
I find it hard to believe that this question wasn’t already settled before the announcement of the new Apostolic Constitution was made.
It seems that the Pope has stirred up more than one hornet’s nest. Will the final version of the ‘constitution’ be so weak as to be useless?
The National Catholic Register reports the same material without all the added bias. See: http://www.ncregister.com/daily/celibacy_issue_holds_up_apostilic_constitution/
Note the difference in length between the two versions. The Times has an axe to grind and it shows.
I think that in the United States, Eastern Rite priests may not be married. I wonder if this constitution will lead to a change in that as well?
[blockquote] I think that in the United States, Eastern Rite priests may not be married. [/blockquote]
I toured an RCC eastern rite parish in 2004 and the priest giving the tour talked about his wife. Things may have changed since then but I do believe eastern rite catholics can marry, if and only if they are priests.
#10, you are (or your post is) extremely confused. Eastern rite Catholics can marry if and only if they are [i]not[/i] ordained (whether as deacon, priest or bishop). Eastern rite Catholic lay people can in fact legitimately marry. The subtle difference is that in the eastern rites, a married person may be ordained.
Fear not, these things haven’t changed since your 2004 tour, haven’t changed for a thousand years and never will.
[blockquote] you are (or your post is) extremely confused. [/blockquote]
whoops. guilty as charged. I think you (#11) thoroughly clarified the matter.
Soli Deo honor et gloria. God bless!