To bring to an end a period of uncertainty, an “Apostolic Constitution” allowing groups of Anglicans, both lay and religious, to enter into “full visible communion” with the Catholic Church is to be published soon. The journalists were briefed about this initiative by the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, car. William Levada, in a press conference held at the Vatican this morning. At the same time, another press conference was held in London by Archbishop Vincent Gerard Nichols, primate of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, and by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, primate of the Anglican Communion. As reported by card. Levada in his briefing to the journalists, some 20 or 30 Anglican bishops and “thousands” of faithful may be interested in entering the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church “while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony”, as stated in a note released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Pastoral guidance for these groups of faithful will be provided by a Personal Ordinariate. The Apostolic Constitution provides a canonical structure allowing married Anglican priests to be ordained in the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, historical and ecumenical reasons preclude the ordination of married men as bishops in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. “The Constitution therefore stipulates that the Ordinary can be either a priest or an unmarried bishop”, reads the note. The Constitution – explained card. Levada – “provides a new structure” but its implementation will occur in two phases. This is the fruit of a series of “consultations” held with Cardinal Walter Kasper and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.