Fr. Eric L. Bergman, chaplain of the Thomas Moore Society in Scranton and chaplain of the Anglican Use Society, explained some of the changes that have been made in the Anglican Use.
“The Anglican Use and the Pastoral Provision are now open to Continuing Church Anglicans as well as members of the Episcopal Church,” he said. “The [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] said the Pastoral Provision can apply to men in Continuing Churches and their communities.”
Fr. Bergman also said a community in Kansas City is forming because of the new opportunities, but the Anglican Use remains in the United States only, for now.
“Whether it will be expanded to other countries is anybody’s guess,” he said.
Archbishop Myers suggested those who have benefited from the Pastoral Provision over its 28 years of existence should remember that it was granted “for an indefinite period of time.”
“Catholic faithful who worship according to the Anglican Use must never see themselves as different from other Catholics or somehow privileged among other Christian communions,” he said. “We are Catholics together, obedient to the Holy Father, to those bishops in communion with him and ever faithful to magisterial teaching.”
“We long for an expansion of the Anglican Use that would welcome a body into communion,” said Bishop David Moyer, a bishop of the Traditional Anglican Communion and rector of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont. “The Traditional Anglican Communion petitioned for that in October. Any move toward expansion of the Anglican Use by the Vatican is very welcomed.”
“Obedient to the Holy Father?” Strange……somehow, I thought we were obedient only to God!
The “Thomas Moore” Society is actually the “Thomas More” Society, and honors the work and faith of one’s of the first martyrs of Henry’s Reformation. It does not refer to one of the New Age gurus so revered by Trinity Wall Street and Mrs. Schori.
I’d rather be obedient to the “Holy Father” than to Holy Mother Schori. He at least preaches the Gospel.
#1 Rather silly. One can obey the Constitution and the rulings of the Supreme Court without cognitive dissonance.
Cennydd:
Your comment makes me think of a proposal for a short definition of Anglo-Catholics:
“Those who worship following the Anglican liturgy and rites, and who subscribe in all ways to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic faith, but do not submit themselves to obedience to the See of Rome.”
This certainly isn’t a full enough definition, however, because some such as TAC seek to come under Rome as a uniate body, right?
#1 Yes because the Holy Father is obedient to the Son, as He is obedient to the Heavenly Father
Because after all, #1, Jesus said you are Rock, and on some other Rock entirely I will build my church. Also, I will entrust to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; bring them with you when you die.
Cennydd, a good answer to your question can be found in Newman’s address, “Faith and Private Judgement”. You can find it on the internet at Newman Reader.
That might sum up the Anglican problem right there. I don’t doubt every single person in this mess thinks they’re being obedient to God.
Catholic Mom- Very well said. That’s a very succinct statement of why I, as an evangelical, began to question the Reformation and eventually left the Episcopal Church to be reconciled to Rome.
“Catholic faithful who worship according to the Anglican Use must never see themselves as different from other Catholics or somehow privileged among other Christian communions,” he said. “We are Catholics together, obedient to the Holy Father, to those bishops in communion with him and ever faithful to magisterial teaching.”
Yes. Well. This is the problem, isn’t it? Again and again the ACA and TAC tell me that there will be NO change in the church. We will merely be in communion with Rome. But the quotation above says something else again. Obedient to the Holy Father? This is not a substantive change? Or does ++Myers have it wrong? He too is misinformed? My suspicions grow day by day. They are hardly allayed by what I have heard. It will be a long cold day in Hell before I am obedient to the Pope. It is significant that the letters written to Rome asking for “intercommunion” are secret;++ Langberg made iot clear that no one will know what is inside them until Rome speaks. And then, for angry dissenters like me, will it then be too late?
Paranoid in Maine
A quote from the article in the Bulletin:
“We are striving to increase awareness of our apostolate to Anglican Christians who desire to be reconciled with the Holy See.”
For those who seek Rome, this provision may work out to be a perfect fit. But I believe anyone considering the Anglican Use under the Pastoral Provision should evaluate and consider carefully your move in this direction. Please understand that you will be reconciled with the Holy See, that is, converted to Rome.
I saw an excellent blog by a Roman Catholic priest in the SE US who came out of the Anglican realm. I wish I could remember how to find it. He counseled folks to make their final decision carefully and understand the consequences.
Hi again,
Found the blog posting which might be very helpful to some interested in “Tiber swimming”:
http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2008/07/checklist-for-anglican-tiber-swimming.html
#12,
Wonderful post! As one who has made the swim, I can confirm. Please do not consider coming to Rome in any form unless you are “COMING TO ROME”! (It can be a rough swim, but I am ecstatic to be here!).
To moderate my previous post just a bit. I should not have said : “do not consider…”. Do, in fact, CONSIDER, i.e.: read, study, pray, discuss. What I meant to say is don’t actually come to entering the Church without full assent.
The last thing I would want to do is have someone turn away because of what I said.
Peace and grace to all,
CofS