www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Another Episcopal bishop heads Romeward

Only the TAC, which counts around 400,000 faithful worlwide, has a pending request for corporate re-union with the Church of Rome, their request including a proposal that TAC be granted a separate rite of their own to be known as the "Anglican Rite."

In such an event, the 6 or 7? "Anglican Use" parishes in the U.S. would be subsumed?

Now, as to the Anglican Communion proper, with an estimated membership of 77 million worldwide as you indicated, I think it is probably evenly divided between the "Northerns," including the UK and the U.S., and the "Southerns," which include Anglican Churches in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Perceived as the "conservative" wing of the Anglican Communion, the "Southerns" would likely be the first to approach Rome for a corporate re-union. The "Northerns," on the other hand, and perceived to be the liberal wing, might drag their feet altogether, if ever.

So, we are talking, at most, between 38 and 40 million Anglicans who could be seeking re-union with Rome, if ever.

Amado

Their clergy are most often married, and the Roman Church does not usually allow married priest.

What is needed for the pastoral care of these people is the "Western Rite Greek Catholic Church".

Two Lungs,

There are more married Latin Rite priests in the U.S. than there are married Eastern Rite priests, thanks to conversions from Episcopalianism.

Alexis

I would wholeheartedly support the idea of an Anglican Rite. TAC's corporate move for entry into the CC is as good an opportunity as any. Without a rite with a hierarchy, I dont see much of a future for the Anglican Use. It takes at least a Rite to perpetuate a married clergy as it now stands.

The two problems with TAC are that its hierarchy is comprised of many former Catholics and almost all have been divorced and remarried--after ordination. Big no, no's all over the place.

But, if even a thin hierarchy could be established, this could go a long way toward building a wing of the Church which would be attractive to many Protestants, not just Anglicans.

[And, who knows, if the Melkites have their way they might not even have to believe in the Real Presence or the Theotokos. They could just be "Protestants in communion with Rome." Here endeth the snark.]

Amando, I wish.

As an avid Anglican watcher I must say the total numbers of Anglicans with an attraction to Catholicism are scant indeed. Anglo-Catholicism grew within historic Anglicanism, but Anglo-Catholics were not good evengelizers of new territory. It was the Evangelical wing that took Anglicanism to Africa and other regions. These folks have successfully innoculated themselves from Catholic and even Orthodox theology by almost reducing it to so much hocus pocus. Yes, Anglicanism is THAT divided. My father's home church is of the evangelical wing and their ideas about liturgy and salvation are closer to the Baptists than to the Catholics, though their veneer would make one think otherwise.

I would say that those coming over from Anglicanism mostly already have with notable stragglers coming currently. TAC represents part of the old high AngloCatholic wing that splintered from the Communion after WO in 1976. Of the other three splinter groups formed in this period, two are largely merged and remaining independent and one is hoping to be part of a group of evangelicals and others hoping to become the new Anglican Province of North America if the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church ever get booted from the Communion.

Looking at Rowan Williams, he will never kick anybody out of the Communion. It looks like his strategy is to remain in communion with the various fragments of Anglicanism while they sever ties with one another. It may be that we will speak of Anglican Communions (pl.) all in communion with Canterbury.

Dear Father Steele,

Your comment exhibits both extreme arrogance and ignorance.

With such a comment (and you a Catholic priest!) you forfeit your posting privileges on this forum (and I say this publicly rather than privately because of the incredible number of complaints we have been receiving, both from our Catholic posters and our Orthodox posters on a regular basis since you joined the forum).

I can only recommend that you study and pray the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the Eastern Churches and our theology.

As to our Melkite brethren, you would do well to not stray beyond what Rome has said, which is essentially that it understands the pain of separation, appreciates the efforts of the Melkite Church, but reserves all ecumenical dialogue to herself.

I apologize to all for Father Steele�s very offensive remarks.

John (Admin)