Another alternative is the Pastoral Provision for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite. These are Catholic parishes comprised of former Anglican and Episcopalian congregations that have become Roman Catholic, and which have been given special permission to celebrate their own uniquely English version of the orthodox Catholic mass. Our parishes tend to be orthodox, doctrinally conservative, and liturgically traditional; the mass is celebrated by a properly attired priest, who faces the Tabernacle (not the congregation) and offers us the Body and Blood of the Lord from his own hands. (We receive Communion on the tongue while kneeling at the altar rail.) Our mass is based upon the traditional Anglican forms as found in The Book of Divine Worship and do not contain recent liturgical “improvements”. Yes, we have married priests, but these men were married before joining the Catholic Church, and are fully orthodox in their belief and teaching regarding priestly celibacy.
Anglicans, come home. The Roman Catholic Church needs you. There has never been a better time to “cross the Tiber” than now.
Tell me, can somebody get in touch with whoever the Cardinal or other authority is in charge of Anglican Use and tell him to get started on an outreach program?
Even without having been to church since this vote, I know of several families in our parish who would be standing at the door of an Anglican Use parish waiting for the priest to unlock, if there were such a parish closer than Texas and South Carolina! And there are probably enough in the metro Atlanta area to start a VERY large parish right off the bat. Folks who could provide money, space, a house for the priest, and a good portion of his salary while the church got organized.
But somebody has to start the ball rolling.