Posted on 10/19/2007 6:27:12 PM PDT by GCC Catholic
The College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) recently petitioned for “full, corporate, sacramental union” with the Roman Catholic Church recently.
The appeal for union was debated during a meeting of bishops in Portsmouth, England during the first week of October. It was delivered in a letter, which was signed by all the bishops present. The letter was delivered personally to the Holy See by the Most Rev. John Hepworth, Primate of TAC, and two other bishops selected by the college.
Bishop David Moyer, Bishop of the Armed Forces for the U.S. branch of TAC and rector of Good Shepherd Church, Rosemont, Pa., said the college agreed not to discuss the appeal or the contents of the letter until after the Vatican has responded. Customarily the Roman Catholic Church does not announce ahead of time when it will make a decision public.
With approximately 100 congregations in the U.S., the Anglican Church in America (ACA) is among the largest of several “Continuing Churches” which emerged from the Affirmation of St. Louis and the 1977 gathering of former Episcopalians and other Anglicans. The ACA is the American branch of TAC, a worldwide association of orthodox Anglican churches, working to maintain the catholic faith and resist the secularization of the Church. TAC claims more than 400,000 members on six continents. Neither TAC nor the ACA are among the Common Cause Partnership of Anglicans led by Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh.
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It's different this time.
What's different?
Check your freepmail.
We all knew this day would come. Let’s pray that a full and sacramental union can be effected soon!
Interesting changes.
What does “continuing” mean in the phrase “Continuing Anglican”?
Why is it different this time? Does Rome having given up on any kind of reconciliation with Canterbury have anything to do with it? Or are there issues internal to TAC that have changed?
Personally, I think there’s a very good probability some kind of deal will be worked out. I’m not sure what, but there’s lots of good will on both sides, which usually bodes well for these things!
The TAC is taking an approach that is more “comfortable” for the Vatican. They did a better job clearing the way before meeting which resulted in a better reception than past efforts and are behaving themselves better since the “delivery.”
I kind of get the impression from what I’ve read that there aren’t any HUGE Theological (if any) problems to be overcome it would seem to boil down to Administrative and a couple of issues regarding discipline.
I think a granting of a dispensation or two might be necessary as well.
The married Bishops thing is a problem as is Hepworth’s unusual status as a married ex-Catholic Priest.
Maybe Rome could select a Celibate Priest from among the ranks of the TAC and elevate him to the Episcopacy, kind of like what they did when all those SSPXrs came over in 1988.
All that said, it’s a very good starting point.
“The married Bishops thing is a problem as is Hepworth’s unusual status as a married ex-Catholic Priest.”
My middle-aged memory may be failing me, but I seem to recall that Archbishop Hepworth has said that he would be willing to step down if it was what was required to achieve reunion with Rome.
sitetest
I’d be interested in a more detailed description of how the TAC’s approach is more “comfortable” for the Vatican this time.
Any insights that you have (that wouldn’t betray confidences given, of course) would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
sitetest
Interesting - thanks for the info. More TLM would be wonderful, too!
I believe you are correct, but there would still be the issue of him functioning as a Priest....a dispensation would be necessary in that case.
I know a lot of attention has been focused on the married bishops issue but I don't see why that one would be a show-stopper. I think the TAC bishops realize that this issue is bigger than any of them individually and that Anglican practice in this area is at odds with catholic and apostolic tradition.
This is a very exciting possiblity but nothing like this is going to happen in a hurry. People on both sides of the Tiber need to remain calm and let the dialogue happen. I think the TAC bishops are more sensitive now to the importance of not having the dialogue take place through press releases, and of the way that issues such as this are handled within the Curia (is that the right term?).
“I believe you are correct, but there would still be the issue of him functioning as a Priest....a dispensation would be necessary in that case.”
Yes, that’s true. I don’t know how old Archbishop Hepworth is, but if he’s not too far away from a normal retirement age, perhaps that could be finessed.
sitetest
“I believe that the TAC bishops cleared the way much more effecitvely this time than they have in the past.”
How so?
“Their letter got a better reception than did past efforts. Also, I believe they addressed the doctrinal issues in a different way than has been done in the past.”
What are the differences in how they addressed the doctrinal issues from how they did in the past?
“I know a lot of attention has been focused on the married bishops issue but I don’t see why that one would be a show-stopper.”
My sense is that the TAC bishops are prepared to “take the hit” to achieve reunion. You seem to suggest that that is the case.
“I think the TAC bishops are more sensitive now to the importance of not having the dialogue take place through press releases, and of the way that issues such as this are handled within the Curia (is that the right term?).”
I understand.
Thanks,
sitetest
I don’t want to seem to be playing coy, but the last point is really the key to why I can’t say anything more about the fist two points. We’ll just have to let the process work itself through and pray, along with Jesus, that we may all be one.
Okay. No problem - I understand.
I seem to remember Hepworth saying....maybe around the end of 2005 or so...that they weren’t going to comment on the negotiations publicly anymore. That tipped me off then, and still does, that things are getting serious.
I am very optimistic, and the TAC remains in my daily prayers.
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