The more I think about the Personal Ordinariate the Holy Father has set up for Anglicans, the more I believe it could be a very important step for future reconciliation of many people--not just Anglicans.
The most important thing the Personal Ordinary will bring to the situation is a pro-active, informed advocate for convert clergy. I know from working with St Barnabas Society and from conversations with the people at the Coming Home Network that there are many many Protestant clergy who would love to 'come home to Rome'.
However, there are problems. One of the problems is that most Catholic bishops (assuming they are welcoming to convert clergy) simply don't know what to do with a convert clergyman. The reason for this is practical and complex. First of all, most Catholics bishops are not very knowledgeable about the different Protestant groups. Why should they be? I would have thought it is a job enough to know all the different Catholic groups, religious orders, apostolates, schools etc. etc. But to understand all the Prots too? It's impossible. How is the poor man to know the difference between the Church of Christ and the Church of God, the Assemblies of God and the Assemblies of Christ, the Disciples of Christ and the Christian Disciples? It's impossible to even stay on top of the Anglican schism groups. "Now let me see, are you Anglican Orthodox or Orthodox Anglican? Reformed Anglican American Church or the Anglican Reformed American Church?"
Secondly, the Catholic doesn't understand the man's experience and training. He doesn't know whether his mish mash of education in a Bible College here, a seminary there, a university theology department here or a correspondence course there is bona fide or bogus. Same with the convert's pastoral experience, spiritual training and formation. Is this man a dangerous lunatic or a sensible fellow? The bishop doesn't know how to read the situation.
Thirdly, the Catholic Bishop is not aware of the inner workings, mindset and worldview of the typical Protestant. There is a deep cultural and intellectual and spiritual divide. He can't get into the skin of the Protestant convert priest. He doesn't really know what makes him tick. He may therefore be suspicious of the fellow or at least confused and uncertain.
As a result the bishop simply doesn't know what to do with the guy. So too often he puts the letter back into the in tray and says, "I'll pray about it..."
Now the bishop will have someone he can turn to. If this works the way it should work the Personal Ordinary will be able to advise the bishop. He's walked that way already. He knows the Anglican Church. He knows the Episcopals. The men chosen should also know the rest of the Protestant world. He should be able to offer a warm welcome and advice not just to Anglicans, but to Lutherans, Presbyterians and every other type of Protestant.
With any luck, these Personal Ordinaries will be men who can really be evangelists. They will be elder brothers to the potential converts--advising them and pointing the way in the Catholic Church. At the same time they will be able to reassure and encourage the bishops to use the converts in all sorts of positive and creative ways in the Church. Some will be ordained as priests to serve in Anglican Use parishes, but I believe the Personal Ordinary, if he is doing his job, will keep an open door to men from many different backgrounds, and help them find appropriate ways to serve within the Church.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Fr. L - from your radio show, and also from this post, our understanding of the role of the ordinary is a little bit different. You seem to view the ordinary as a kind of advisor to the local Roman-rite bishop as to how to place a convert priest.
My own understanding from what has been said thus far is that the ordinary of the new Anglican P. O. structure is closer to the role of an Eastern rite Catholic bishop in the same geographical area: Friendly relations, full intercommunion, but serving a different community of people in different churches with a different liturgy and ethos.
There can be some overlap, in the sense that the faithful can attend church in either place and receive the sacraments in either place, but that the new Catholic Anglican sheep will have their own shepherd, and their priest will have his own ordinary - completely independent of the local Roman-rite bishop.
I will be interested to see which model is described in the constitution and which will be the practical reality.
Your understanding is the primary intention. I am envisioning a wider and more informal role as well.
That post is really insightful. I never looked at it that way. And I can envision some bishops making use of the position in that way. It may have more advantages than meets the eye in the long run.
Great take on the possible future of the ordinary. I think that it would open the door to more of the traditional protestant groups coming into the Church, but how do you think that it would affect more of the evangelical/"non-denominational" protestant groups? Wouldn't the ordinary have to keep up with thousands of groups?
But I do agree that this is a pivotal moment in reconciliation history.
Fr. L,
I think a great way to use married Catholic Convert Clergy would be to encourage some of them to serve in the military as Catholic Chaplains. I'm retired Air Force and just like in civilian life, there is a shortage of priests in the military. The advantages of this would be that the government would provide for their salary and housing. This should be especially attractive to those with families. The pay is also much better than what they would make at a parish (Not hard to do I'm told). They would have to relocate every 2 to 3 years, but so does the rest of those in the military. I think it would be a real nice solution for some of them. If you want more info, I'd be happy to provide it.
This situation is very troubling. I am a cradle Catholic, attended the large urban parochial grammar school and the large urban Jesuit Prep followed by the Jesuit university. It was so simple. You were Protestants and we were Catholic. No need to differentiate between the Bible types since you were all wrong and the probability of your attaining eternal salvation was mimimal.
Now this Pope decides to facilitate the entry of the Protestants. Give me a break. My maternal ancestors were Scotch Presbyterians but I never wanted to be Protestant. Please, have the the Archbishop of Canterbury reciprocate and establish a Catholic Lite Rite for the Vatican II Catholic Lite crowd. It is more blessed to give than receive. Life was much simpler under the old regime. We were right, you were wrong.
Joe, as I understand it, the Church is not taking in Protestants. They will be Catholic and will have to accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church. Converts are not less Catholic than us cradle bunch.
It would be far more simple and desirable for all Christians to be one, of course, but unfortunately the reality is different.
I recognise the "We were right, you were wrong" caricature all too well, and, (like the truth?) no-one has had a monopoly of it. In fact the smugness of "WE are the ones who are right" is the greatest man-made obstacle to Christian unity.
Question: in these troubled and godless times, should Christians be directing their evangelism towards those who currently have no Christian faith, or towards those who have the "wrong" Christian faith?
Post a Comment