Meanwhile, discussions at the Vatican on devising a possible structure for the Traditional Anglican Communion to come into communion with Rome are understood to be nearing completion.
The communion is a breakaway group of 400,000 Anglicans opposed to women’s ordination.
However, during his May 5 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, [Archbishop Rowan] Williams asked that any potential announcement be delayed until after the Lambeth Conference.
Veteran observers of the Anglicans’ continuing identity crisis are not optimistic that it can be resolved, given the wide gulf that exists between liberal-minded Anglican hierarchies in Western countries and more orthodox bishops in the developing world.
Viscount Christopher Monckton of Brenchley, author of Anglican Orders: Null and Void?, believes that in the absence of a magisterium and under the less-than-decisive leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, there is “no chance whatsoever that the Lambeth Conference will settle the question of what ”” if anything ”” the Anglican Communion believes.”
The TAC, I predict, will be welcomed into communion with Rome under the already existing Anglican Use provision. The Anglican Use provision has already become a brilliant, if small, jewel in the Papal crown. This can only be enhanced if the TAC is invited into the Roman bosom while being allowed to retain all that is good, true and beautiful in Anglicanism. For Anglo-Catholics it may finally be an answer to prayer. Although I am an Affirming Catholicism reappraiser, I say God bless it! I wonder why Evangelical Anglicans do not do something similarly wise and unite under one tent in the Reformed Episcopal Church? There are more splinters and jurisdictions of continuing Anglicanism than one can keep up with! I think the best way forward will be for two expressions of the Anglican charism i.e. liberal and conservative (as one poster elsewhere compared to the ELCA and the LCMS). I express and feel sorrow, shame and contrition for the manner in which 815 and too many reappraisers have treated our more conservative brothers and sisters. Please know and remember that there are some/many? of us on the reappraiser side of things who do not condone all the dishonorable and hard hearted litigation being done by the seated monarch at 815 and her council of advise. I do not think her evil, but misguided by her legal counsel. She inheireted a whirlwind. God have mercy on us all. Mary Most Holy pray for us.
Painfully accurate without a trace of meadow muffin.
This is significant news. Although Orthodox, I think it is a very good move on their part.
ICXC NIKA
John
(Happy Ascension Thursday!)