One of the many nice things about The Anglo-Catholic has been the ability of the blog to canvass a range of ideas and opinions about things Anglican. I have personally enjoyed contributing to the discussions on Anglicanorum coetibus (and other issues), and the fact that the web master allows the free exchange of different views. It is also to his great credit that he keeps us up to date about what is going on. He now refers to the new Pastoral Statement from Archbishop Hepworth to members of the TAC. His account of the “TAC narrative” is, I believe, not true to what I know to be the facts of the matter.
When I say “I know” it is because, although not a member of the TAC or any other Anglican group, I keep myself well informed from my sources in Australia, England (where I was once a Church of England priest), Rome, Canada, and to a lesser extent the US. Recent developments in the implementation process of which Christian Campbell may be unaware has seen a significant shift in the implementation processes. Moreover, I know that Father Christopher Phillips, fine priest as he is, is in touch with Archbishop Hepworth, and vice versa, to make sure they are working together for the common good.
The process of implementation has not been the same in all 4 countries where it is planned to set up an Ordinariate. The US is in many ways sui generis precisely because of the Anglican Use parishes which exist there and nowhere else.
What Archbishop Hepworth’s Pastoral Statement exemplifies is the strong and continuing commitment of TAC bishops to cooperate with the Roman authorities to see Ordinariates implemented while at the same time being strong advocates for “corporate reunion” and being willing to argue for it. Their concerns have been heard and acted upon. For example, Bishop Elliott has been very open to hearing from Archbishop Hepworth and is working well with him and the TAC to bring about an Australian Ordinariate. The same sort of strong cooperation between the excellent Catholic Bishop Delegates and the TAC is evident in Canada, the US, and England.
It is simply not fair to preempt a wider reading of this very important Pastoral Statement by sketching a partisan and hostile context within which it might be read.
As Archbishop Hepworth so wisely observes in his Pastoral Letter
"As we come to this moment of creating Ordinariates, we are bringing together groups of people who share the twin vision of achieving unity and of bringing the treasure of Anglicanism into the fullness of Catholic Communion. Some groups have been hostile to others."
He later goes on to give this piece of pastoral advice which all concerned should exemplify if their Christianity is to be truly lived out:
The diversity of Anglican groups now preparing to join Ordinariates is a miracle of grace. Charity and forgiveness are to be the hallmarks of the gathering of Anglican groups. Every group that approaches this with integrity has an equal right to involvement in the formation and development of Ordinariates. None of us owns an Ordinariate. We are each its servant. [emphasis added]
So let us read this very fine Pastoral Statement in a spirit that is free of prejudice and pre-prepared political positions and be truly glad that all concerned are working to further the unity of the Church for which Christ prayed. No pathway to unity has ever been free of difficulties. Thank God that the difficulties experienced by many have now been overcome.
Be sure to follow our Moderator at Eccentric Bliss, his personal blog!
Yes this is the time for all of us to come together in charity. However I must say that I have read several posts from posters who seemed confused on what the Apostolic Constitution stated.
This confusion brought worry and mistrust into the lives of these posters. Now that all has been clarified let us go forth as one in communion with the Catholic Church.
We must remember that there are many outside of those entering the Ordinariate that want it to fail. Let us prove to these doubters the wonderful fruits that the Ordinariates will be bringing into the Church.
I believe that I am more than sufficiently informed about the recent developments in Australia and elsewhere, Fr. Fleming.
Anyway, I was not trying to disparage the Primate, only to observe that the more "conservative" (realistic) reading of Anglicanorum Coetibus has demonstrably won out — and this for the good of all genuine Anglican Catholics. Hopefully the time for wishful thinking, hyperbole, and prognostication is now over.
I was under the illusion that Fr. Fleming had published a book on the subject.
Sorry, Christian. I misread your post, and didn't see the word "than". I took you to mean that you were more informed about developments in Australia than Fr. Fleming.
Michael:
No problem. I think that Fr. Fleming misread my initial post as well.
We have reason to rejoice up here in Canada. There are new developments. Soon I hope to be able to report on them.
As Fr. Fleming said: "Their concerns have been heard and acted upon."
Deborah
I just wish so much to welcome all those coming into union with the Catholic church! I am sure there will be difficulties and not everywhere will there be open arms but it is all worth it! Let nothing hinder the joining!
My understanding has been that there would be only one Ordinariate active within any given territory. While this might start out for instance with one Ordinariate for the United States, it is allowed that the United States might eventually be broken down into regions. Then regardless of what group a person might currently belong to, all of these persons within a given territory would all become members of the same Ordinariate.
What I have not noticed any discussion of is whether some of the groups joining the Ordinariate might want to maintain a group identity within the Ordinariate in some other form. The Constitution allows for the formation of Institutes of Religious Life, Societies of Apostolic Life, and I would presume for organizations such as Public Associations of the Faithful. As an example, The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is a Catholic group in which the member priests celebrate the liturgy according to an earlier tradition (the Extraordinary Form). While perhaps it is just too early in the process to have given much consideration, are their groups that are interested in corporately entering the Ordinariates that might maintain some type of corporate form by forming an association under the Ordinariate?