The Vatican announces New Apostolic Constitution for
Welcoming Anglicans into Full Communion.
Our
society was formed at the end of 2001 and took corporate
form in 2003 to increase knowledge and understanding of the
special Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the
Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite (Under the leadership of
the Most Rev. John J. Myers,
Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision and
Archbishop of Newark).
The
Pastoral Provision only applied to the United States despite
the growing interest among Catholic minded Anglicans to take
advantage of its provisions for Anglicans to enter the
communion of the Catholic Church.
On
Tuesday October 20, 2009, the Vatican announced a new
Apostolic Constitution which is an answer to the prayers of
all of us in the society. It is a truly generous and
thoughtful approach.
On
November 9, 2009, the feast of the dedication of St. John
Lateran, Pope Benedict XVI published Anglicanorum
Coetibus, the new Apostolic Constitution, along with
complementary norms, for the establishment of Personal
Ordinariates. (click
here to read more)
As
Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith said: "We have been trying to meet the
requests for full communion that have come to us from
Anglicans in different parts of the world in recent years in
a uniform and equitable way. With this proposal the Church
wants to respond to the legitimate aspirations of these
Anglican groups for full and visible unity with the Bishop
of Rome, successor of St. Peter....Those Anglicans who have
approached the Holy See have made clear their desire for
full, visible unity in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic
Church. At the same time, they have told us of the
importance of their Anglican traditions of spirituality and
worship for their faith journey."
We now
have a unique opportunity to assist and welcome Anglicans
from all over the world seek and find the stability of full
communion with Rome. We also pray for their "faith journey"
and express our gratitude to the Holy Father for his
guidance and generosity.
