Posted on 11/10/2009 3:42:41 AM PST by tcg
“Given in Rome, at St. Peter’s, on November 4, 2009, the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo.” These words appear just before the signature of Pope Benedict XVI on the historic Apostolic Constitution entitled Anglicanorum Coetibus. The name of the Apostolic Constitution, as with many magisterial documents, is taken from the first words of the Latin text. It means "Groups of Anglicans".
The dates when magisterial documents of this kind of significance are dated - and then released - are significant. Nothing of this magnitude is ever done haphazardly by the Holy See. The dates of promulgation and release underscore the significance of the document. I believe that is particularly the case with this extraordinary Apostolic Constitution setting forth the framework for Anglican Christians to come into the full communion of the Church in “Personal Ordinariates” and retain elements of their Anglican ethos and identity....
...There is room for legitimate diversity within the orthodoxy and orthopraxy of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Unity does not mean uniformity. In his extraordinary Encyclical Letter of 1995 entitled Ut Unum Sint”/“May They be One” the late Servant of God John Paul II laid out a challenge for the whole Church to take up. That Encyclical called the whole Catholic Church to recover it’s unity and a proper expression of its legitimate diversity. The reception of our Anglican brethren who follow the path laid out in this new Apostolic Constitution will enrich the whole Church. However, I believe it also stands as a prophetic sign of things to come. Pope Benedict XVI is the “Pope of Christian Unity” and he has only begun his important work in response to the call of the Holy Spirit in this important hour.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
How will this affect rank and file Anglicans and Episcopalians? I understand that priests who are already married will be accepted, so will the Church also accept lay people who are Freemasons?
Actually, I would have converted to RC long ago, but for this one issue. I agree with the Church's stance on every other issue, and in a way I even admire their unwillingness to compromise on this one. But I have become so disenchanted with the Episcopal Church's liberalism, and their eagerness to compromise on clear moral issues, that I simply no longer attend.
And I miss it.
The liberals in the Anglican Communion won’t be affected at all. In fact, I expect them to be quietly happy about anything that would induce traditionalists to exit the Anglican Communion, leaving their properties and trust funds behind.
The reaction among evangelicals and the “Anglo-Catholics” has been more interesting. So far, the Apostolic Constitution has been met with gratitude combined with some skepticism. There are aspects of Roman Catholicism that both groups object to, and this Apostolic Constitution really doesn’t address those issues.
The folks in the Traditional Anglican Communion are, of course, ecstatic. TAC has had very little to do with GAFCON, Forward in Faith or the ACNA. All they have wanted to do for the last few years is swim the Tiber en masse.
I don’t understand your question — are you asking if The Church will allow Freemasons to be baptised into The Church?
Having read both the Apostolic Constitution and its Complementary Norms, I saw no mention of masonry.
Thus, my best guess is that the formal ban on masonic membership for Catholics will continue.
sitetest
No, my question is whether the Church (RC) addressed the issue of allowing Anglicans who also happen to be Freemasons to be in full communion with the Church.
I understand that no Freemason will be baptized into the Church (RC) in the foreseeable future (if ever), but will being a Freemason preclude an individual Anglican (or, in my case, Episcoplain) from enjoying full communion with Church with the rest of those Anglicans who are not Freemasons.
I'd appreciate your thoughts, although I would rather this thread not devolve into a debate on the merits (or the lack thereof) of the Masonic Fraternity.
Thanks.
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