Merger ... or Acquisition? [on Anglican Use]

The Continuum ^ | 12/14/2005 | The Thoughful Crab

[sionnsar]

The following comes from http://thoughtfulcrab.blogspot.com, The Thoughtful Crab:

I thought my readers might find the following links of interest:

http://www.anglicanuse.org
http://www.bookofdivineworship.com/
http://www.walsingham-church.org/mass.htm

A couple decades ago, the Roman Catholic Church Church made a pastoral provision for some Anglican parishes to convert wholesale to Roman Catholicism and retain their priest (After reordination) and some elements of the traditional Anglican liturgy. The Book of Divine Worship is a reorganized version of the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer (With elements from both the 28 and the 79 prayer books), altered to reflect Roman Catholic theology. The liturgy is a cross between the traditional Anglican liturgy and the traditional Roman Catholic liturgy.

Of course, like anything, there are some catches. One is that those in Anglican-Use parishes are required to assent to all elements of Roman Catholic teaching. The other catch, and this is a big one -- they can be forceably converted to the regular Novus Ordo Roman Catholic mass at any time. Apparently, in many cases, this has already happened. There are also few long term provisions for continuing the tradition -- once your priest dies, it seems as though you're kind of out of luck and the parish will be converted to the Novus Ordo and stripped of it's Anglican traditions, if it isn't done before that point by a jumpy Roman Catholic bishop.

In some respects, this is a promising start. In the long run, though, I don't think it's wise for any Anglican parish to convert to Roman Catholicism on the premise that they'll be able to retain their heritage. There are no guarantees that they'll be allowed to continue as Anglican Use for long. In fact, the odds are against it.

To have any assurance of being able to continue as Anglicans in any sense of that word, I think Anglicans interested in this sort of thing would have to be offered an "Anglican Rite" like the Eastern Rite Catholics -- complete with their own bishops, priests, seminaries, clerical discipline, and liturgy. A rite is something lasting that people can hang their hats on, to a certain degree. A rite will be there in a few decades or in, theoretically, a few hundred decades. A use is just a bridge intended to get people to the other side, that'll be cut off behind them when they cross it -- these "use" parishes seem destined to all eventually become Novus Ordo parishes, barring a change of direction.

[sionnsar]

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[Cheverus]

Is this author sure about the change in Liturgy, forceable swithc to the Novus Ordo...I imagine he is seeing what Bishops do with regards to the 1962 Missal.

I do know that a Latin Rite Priest has been granted faculties to offer the Liturgy in this form when the Priest who has charge is away (former Anglican).

I would be all for an erection of a Rite personally (or perhaps a personal prelature similar to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest would be less confusing) as from what I understand this is a very beautiful Liturgy.

I have a cousin who with her husband attends the local Anglican Use Chaplaincy (Congregation of St. Athanasius) and they're cradel Latin Rite Catholics.

You should post some parallel articles about the talks with the "Traditional Anglican Communion" and Hepworth and the colossal "boo-boo" made in regards to Bishop Charles Pope some years ago.

[sionnsar]

He wrote: "The other catch, and this is a big one -- they can be forceably converted to the regular Novus Ordo Roman Catholic mass at any time. Apparently, in many cases, this has already happened."

That's all I know...

[sionnsar]

You should post some parallel articles about the talks with the "Traditional Anglican Communion"

I have, when they've come up.

and Hepworth and the colossal "boo-boo" made in regards to Bishop Charles Pope some years ago.

I don't know about this...

[siunevada]

The other catch, and this is a big one -- they can be forceably converted to the regular Novus Ordo Roman Catholic mass at any time.

Well, it sure isn't easy finding out exactly what the Provision says. I hoped for an easily accessible document on the web and it's not popping right up.

We American Catholics would probably all be happier if we were forcibly converted to the Anglican Use liturgy. Hard to imagine a parish converting en masse with no assurance of a continuing respect for the liturgical tradition that is important to them.

[sionnsar]

Well, it sure isn't easy finding out exactly what the Provision says.

Oh well. I was hoping somebody would be able to inform us.

We American Catholics would probably all be happier if we were forcibly converted to the Anglican Use liturgy.

From what I've heard... no doubt. Though IMHO it is a shame that the "Anglican Use" drafters felt the need to draw from the 1979 BCP -- when I read the Anglican Use it felt so familiar... right up until the bits ripped from the '79 clanked in my ear. Pachelbel, meet Stravinsky.

[Cheverus]

Oh, how as a Catholic I hate dirty laundry:

Bishop Pope was an Episcopal Bishop in Texas who wanted his entire Diocese to convert (the whole Parish of Our Lady of the Atonement did), but never realized that dream.

Upon retirement he personally converted to Catholicism and moved to a Catholic Diocese in Lousiana where the Bishop wanted to ordain him a Priest. He said he would only accept ordination if the Priests of the Diocese voted favorably to allow it.

They voted no.

As he grew older and his health began to deteriorate he accepted an invitation from his old (Episcopal Diocese) to return and re-assume the role of retired Bishop with all the benefits attached.

You can probably find an article on this on the web...like I said one of the biggest boo-boos (regarding Christian unity) ever made by Catholic prelates in the U.S.

Like I said dirty laundry.

[Cheverus]

Here are a couple links on Clarence Pope:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/BISHOPRC.TXT

http://www.unavoce.org/theromanoption.htm

[ken5050]

Off topic, but here's something to look forward to next year..

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse for ECUSA, it does...we'll have to have a live thread for the premier show...click here

[GeorgiaGuy]

So I read the links on the Bishop Pope issue but did not see any explanation for why he wanted all the priests to vote on his ordination and why they voted no. Anyone know the answers to these questions?

[Campion]

Though IMHO it is a shame that the "Anglican Use" drafters felt the need to draw from the 1979 BCP -- when I read the Anglican Use it felt so familiar... right up until the bits ripped from the '79 clanked in my ear.

That isn't quite what happened. The 1979 BCP cribbed from the 1970 Missale Romanum (the "Novus Ordo") and the Anglican Use also took some stuff from the Novus Ordo. (Some of which they were required to take for doctrinal reasons; the 1928 Episcopal liturgy isn't entirely suitable for Catholic use.)

[sionnsar]

Ah. I recognized that some parts of the "Anglican Use" had to have come from somewhere else because they certainly weren't in either the '28 or the '79, but I am perfectly happy to agree (not knowing one way or the other) that the truly clunky parts I recognize from the '79 were lifted by its tin-eared drafters from the Novus Ordo also.

[sionnsar]

"Book of Daniel" -- I posted some articles about that in recent months. May it die unobserved.

[Campion]

We're hoping that the new translation of the Roman Missal (in response to the decree "Liturgiam Authenticam") will be better. It won't be Cranmerian, but maybe it won't be dumbed down to the 8th grade level, either.

Comparing the actual Latin of the Roman Missal with the ICEL English of the Novus Ordo is a bit like comparing great literature with a bad elementary school composition.

[ken5050]

IIRC..some time back, there ws another series about an Episcopal priest, starring Dan Akroyd. It also died quickly..

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Sounds like Episcopal Bishop Ackerman of Quincy. He would like to convert his entire diocese to Catholicism.

[Claud]

We American Catholics would probably all be happier if we were forcibly converted to the Anglican Use liturgy.

YES!!!! From your lips to God's ears!

[siunevada]

Oh well. I was hoping somebody would be able to inform us.

We live in the post-modern super-duper future. This stuff has to be out there somewhere.

I had another go at it. Just depends how you phrase your search. Here, at least, is the written beginning of the 'Provision';

Document Outlining the Pastoral Provision issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 22, 1980

I'd bet there's more elsewhere in writing about the working out of the practical details as time goes on.

This would have certainly given me pause in 1980: "2) Liturgy: The group may retain certain elements of the Anglican liturgy; these are to be determined by a Commission of the Congregation set up for this purpose. Use of these elements will be reserved to the former members of the Anglican Communion."

Uhhhh. What about the kids? To be raised as Anglican Use Catholics? What about their rights in the future?

There must be something further along in time. The particular parish that has this document on their website looks like they built a good looking church pretty recently. There must have been a need for that new building. It sure wasn't for the benefit of everybody that came aboard in 1980.