Anglicanorum Coetibus and Complementary Norms (Anglicans Entering the Catholic Church)

Vatican Information Service ^ | November 9, 2009 | Vatican

[ELS]

ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS AND COMPLEMENTARY NORMS

VATICAN CITY, 9 NOV 2009 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith today published the Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum coetibus", which provides for personal ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, and some Complementary Norms for the same Apostolic Constitution.

Both documents are dated 4 November, feast of St. Charles Borromeo, and are signed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada and Archbishop Luis F. Ladaria S.J., respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

An English-language communique released by the congregation recalls how on 20 October, Cardina Levada "announced a new provision responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church.

"The Apostolic Constitution 'Anglicanorum coetibus' which is published today introduces a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing personal ordinariates, which will allow the above mentioned groups to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony. At the same time, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is publishing a set of Complementary Norms which will guide the implementation of this provision.

"This Apostolic Constitution opens a new avenue for the promotion of Christian unity while, at the same time, granting legitimate diversity in the expression of our common faith. It represents not an initiative on the part of the Holy See, but a generous response from the Holy Father to the legitimate aspirations of these Anglican groups. The provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church.

"The possibility envisioned by the Apostolic Constitution for some married clergy within the personal ordinariates does not signify any change in the Church's discipline of clerical celibacy. According to the Vatican Council II, priestly celibacy is a sign and a stimulus for pastoral charity and radiantly proclaims the reign of God".

The Apostolic Constitution contains thirteen sections which concern, among other things: the formation of the new ordinariates which possess, according to paragraph 3 of section 1, "public juridic personality by the law itself (ipso iure)" and are "juridically comparable to a diocese"; the power of the ordinary, "to be exercised jointly with that of the local diocesan bishop in those cases provided for in the Complementary Norms"; candidates for Holy Orders; erection, with the approval of the Holy See, of new Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; the "ad limina" visit of the ordinary, etc.

The Complementary Norms concern the jurisdiction of the Holy See; relations with episcopal conferences and diocesan bishops; the ordinary; the faithful of the ordinariate; the clergy; former Anglican bishops; the governing council; the pastoral council, and personal parishes.

CONST/ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS/LEVADA VIS 091109 (490)

[ArrogantBustard]

Show Me.

[nanetteclaret]

Are you saying you don’t believe me or my source? My source is impeccable. She is the wife of one of those working on it!

Now, whether it actually gets done by Christmas is another thing altogether. But we were told that the Apostolic Constitution would be out by the end of last week, and even though we are just now finding out about it, it actually was signed last week. The timetable has been accurate so far.

[ArrogantBustard]

I'm saying that I view these sorts of things with extreme skepticism, and will believe them when I see them.

Where's that new (correct) translation of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Missal?

Yeah ... we're gonna get that one by Advent. Or so we keep hearing.

Advent of what year? ... now that's the question.

So ... I hope your source is right.

But I'm still (not literally) from Missouri.

St. Thomas, pray for us.

[nanetteclaret]

I think the difference here is motivation. The Bishops of the US are not motivated to have a new translation. They worked tirelessly AGAINST it - even up until the last minute. The Anglican Use people, on the other hand, are very motivated. They want to get a new Missal and a good translation, because they want an improvement on the current “Book of Divine Worship.” Plus, they were told to have it ready by Christmas, so I wouldn’t expect this group to be recalcitrant. Unlike the US Bishops, everybody is on the same team here. So, we’ll see...