Anglican Reunification

One of the fruits of Vatican II was a commitment to ecumenism with a view toward the reunification of the Church in obedience to Christ’s prayer: “That they all may be one.” (John 17:21). No one, of course, knew how or when that would happen, or what shape it would take. In a startling new development, Pope Benedict XVI has authorized the creation of a new Church structure, called “personal ordinariates” (basically non-geographical dioceses) to accommodate Anglicans who have been seeking closer ties with Rome for a number of years. As a former Episcopal priest myself, this development is most welcome. According to Cardinal Levada, Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) the new provision is “a recognition that many Anglicans share the Catholic faith and that Anglicans have a spiritual and liturgical life worth preserving.” It is estimated that some 400,000 Anglicans worldwide will be affected by this provision.

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