Vatican unveils new structure for ex-Anglicans

20 October 2009

The Vatican has approved a historic document, which facilitates the entry of formedr Anglicans into the Catholic Church while retaining an Anglican identity today.

In two parallel press conferences‹in Rome and in London‹Curial officials and the leaders of the Church of England and the Catholic bishops' conference in England and Wales announced that Pope Benedict XVI had signed an Apostolic Constitution, or decree, which would give groups of Anglicans wishing to cross the Tiber the opportunity to do so without losing their Anglican identity.

With the decree, the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith introduced a new legal structure, which resembles the structure of military dioceses, called a Personal Ordinariate. These would cover the geographical area of a bishops' conference and would be headed by an Ordinary, usually be chosen from former Anglican celibate clergy.

Former Anglicans belonging to the Personal Ordinariate would keep aspects of Anglican heritage, use, could eventually develop their own liturgy which would have to be approved by the Holy See.

The move comes as a response 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" during the last three or four years.

Cardinal William Leveda, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Archbishop Augustine deNoia, the Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship made the announcement in Rome, while Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams held a joint press conference in London to stress the unity between mainstream Anglicans and Catholics.

They stressed that the dialogue would not affect Anglican Catholic dialogue.

Archbishop Nichols said: "This is an extraordinary moment. It is a challenge and an opportunity on many fronts. I salute the courage and generosity of Pope Benedict who has again shown and loving heart, just as one would expect of a Holy Father."