Posted on 04/24/2005 11:03:38 PM PDT by churchillbuff
THE new Pope has established links with a group of disaffected Anglicans seeking to form their own church affiliated to the Vatican.
Benedict XVI has held meetings with representatives of the Traditional Anglican Communion, according to Archbishop John Hepworth, the rebel group's primate.
The group represents more than 400,000 Anglicans around the world who have either left their church or are protesting against its liberal policies. It is estimated 400 to 500 Church of England parishes may move to support the group.
"We are looking at a church that would retain an Anglican liturgy, Anglican spirituality and a married clergy," Archbishop Hepworth, a serving Anglican archbishop in Adelaide, said yesterday. "We dream of this happening soon."
One such community exists in the US, but so far there are only 14 parishes.
Any hint of a pact between the Anglicans and Benedict – who has maintained his interest in the group over the past 10 years – would alarm Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and undermine his efforts to maintain the unity of Anglicanism amid growing disputes over issues such as the ordination of female bishops and homosexual priests.
Details of the Pope's links with Archbishop Hepworth's group emerged as several cardinals described what they said was the initial reluctance of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to become leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.
An account of the hours before and during his election in the Sistine Chapel, pieced together from interviews with six cardinals, says Cardinal Ratzinger was plagued by doubts about his personal ability, age and health.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger's right-hand man at the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said: "Ratzinger told me that when he went into the conclave he wasn't thinking at all he would become pope. He absolutely didn't want it, and he didn't think he would get it."
In the first vote on Monday, Cardinal Ratzinger received about 40 votes, while Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, an Italian, received more than 30. Others, including Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, Claudio Hummes of Brazil, and Dionigi Tettamanzi, another Italian, got a handful each.
After the initial vote count, Cardinal Martini, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, asked his supporters to back Cardinal Bergoglio.
But in the ballot on Tuesday afternoon, Cardinal Ratzinger obtained far more than the required two-thirds majority of 77.
A pledge by the new Pope in his first sermon to heal divisions in the church by allowing more dialogue on Vatican policy has failed to win over his liberal critics.
Prominent among them is Hans Kueng, a Swiss theologian who in the 1960s helped to secure a teaching post at Germany's Tubingen University for Cardinal Ratzinger.
The two men became friends and were considered leading lights in the debate on reform. But in 1979 Cardinal Ratzinger investigated Dr Kueng after he questioned papal infallibility. Dr Kueng was stripped of his canonical mission and his right to teach.
"If he remains true to his record, Roman imperialism will intensify and Ratzinger will try to snuff out debate and control every aspect of the church, from the affairs of the cardinals to the smallest diocese," Dr Kueng said.
At his first press conference, Benedict XVI tried to soften his image, paying tribute to the work of journalists. There were limits, however, and he refused to take any questions.
Anglican reading Ping.
Ping
Thought-you'd-be-interested ping.
"We are looking at a church that would retain an Anglican liturgy, Anglican spirituality and a married clergy," Archbishop Hepworth, a serving Anglican archbishop in Adelaide, said yesterday. "We dream of this happening soon."
Maybe accepting the clergy as it stands...but I can't see the Catholic church accepting Anglican liturgy or spirituality without expecting a gradual transition at the least.
There already are such Catholic/Anglican churches; most of them in the US are in Texas, I believe. They do retain the Anglican liturgy.
<> This is just the kind of information that should have stayed within the Sistine Chapel. I thought a secret election was just that, secret! These statements are going to be used over & over again to discredit anything Pope Benedict says or does.
I know about that group, but they are also transitioning to RC priests, as I understand it. Maybe you know more than I do about how these churches are adapting, but I would assume that as the Catholic priests begin officiating the services will also be more Catholicized.
Benedict XVI's legacy may be giant strides toward true Christian unity.
The 1928 Prayer Book has been recognized as perfectly acceptable by the Catholic and Orthodox churches alike. Even the harshest critics accept that the language is much more suited for Divine Liturgy than many of the post-V2 English liturgies.
The thought in many Anglican circles is that if the Communion splits, there might be an opportunity for the conservative majority to enter a relationship with Rome similar to the one that has existed for many years between Rome and Byzantine Catholics. In another words, "Anglican Rite Catholics" would retain their married clergy, liturgy, and a degree of autonomy. Rome would benefit from an influx of theologically conservative and mission oriented Christians who would help strengthen her relationshiop to Evangelical Protestants. That relationship would be critical in fighting the culture war in the West. Both sides would benefit from achieving a major milestone in Christian unity.
FYI
There already are such Catholic/Anglican churches; most of them in the US are in Texas, I believe. They do retain the Anglican liturgy.
There is already an Anglican Use Rite in the Roman Catholic church, approved in 1987.
We have a FReeper or two who are members of that parish. The Mass uses primarily the old BCP (not sure if it's the '28 or an earlier version), but the words of consecration are changed to meet the standard of the Roman Rite. And by special Pastoral Provision, married Anglican clergy are reordained as priests in the Catholic church. A local "high" Anglican priest who was looking into this route told me that the re-ordination is not conditional but absolute (IOW the long-held position of Rome that Anglican Orders are invalid still stands) . . . however, for pension and retirement purposes the date of the priest's original Anglican ordination is used. The priest of my acquaintance said this is "having one's cake and eating it too."
Thanks! May this be the start of may more moves that may progress toward healing the 500-year breach Henry VIII started. England used to be known as Our Lady's dowry, and I don't think that has changed in 500 years, despite Henry VIII.
Ping!
Ping!
Never believe everything that's written by a journalist.
England was VERY Catholic until Henry VIII and the wars with Spain and France.
Actually, one of the reasons Cardial Ratzinger held the office he did before being made Pope was so that Theologians could engage in inquiry and debate without being hauled up before the Holy Inquisition. Apparently, Ratzinger himself had been called before the Inquisition several times in his younger days, and he realized that it WAS stifling to inquiry and study. He and his Bishop suggested something different, and when John Paul II was made Pope, he sent for Cardinal Ratzinger and they created the new Office which the Cardinal held for over 20 years. Theologians were given a LOT more leeway during his tenure.
Hans Keung is just trying to get even. He knows what he did was wrong, he just doesn't want to admit it. Having his questions and even voicing them within the community of Theologians is one thing. Going public with his questions and creating confusion among regular churchgoers who are not familiar with the studies of the academicians is another thing entirely.
Mark,
You are exactly right! Real ecumenism does not sweep differences under the carpet or whitewash them, nor does it force it on unwilling people like the PC-nazis force "diversity" or "multiculturalism" down people's throats. Real ecumenism also acknowledges things held in common (like Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and Orthodox Jews who are anti-abortion, anti-pornography, etc.) in standing against the culture of death/culture of sleaze. While there are certainly differences, we have more in common with Fundamentalists and Orthodox Jews who are firmly against the current culture of death/culture of sleaze than we do with the bunch of CINO rad-lib-revisionist-wreckovationsists.
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