Will Episcopalians troubled by homosexuality and women’s ordination flock to the Catholic Church?
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That’s what the Catholic Church is counting on. In today’s biggest religion news, the Vatican announced that it will open its doors to Anglicans who are upset over their church’s increasing acceptance of homosexuality and the ordination of women.
Citing “many requests” from Anglicans around the world, the Vatican said that Pope Benedict XVI would permit the establishment of new national dioceses in which former Anglicans can join the Catholic Church while retaining many of their traditional forms of worship.
The story goes on to describe how Anglicans have…
been deeply divided by a growing acceptance of homosexuality in its North American branches—including the consecration of a gay bishop in New Hampshire and the blessing of same-sex unions in some dioceses. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 Anglican priests have threatened to leave the Church of England—the mother church of the worldwide communion—if it begins to ordain women bishops.
This move by the Catholic Church is huge — not only because of what it means in terms of relations between the two churches, but also because of what it could mean for the Catholic Church itself.
Anglican clergy already married will be eligible to be ordained as priests within the Catholic Church. Although many don’t realize it, this is nothing new. Married Anglican priests have been allowed into the Church for years. Still, given this news, one can expect to see a greater number of them. And the question is, what does this mean for the Catholic Church’s stance on priesthood and celibacy? Is there more likely to be a shift?
What about the Catholic women who have been fighting for the right to be ordained for years? Did their fight just get harder?
And of course, there’s gays. As if they weren’t already embattled enough.
For liberal Catholics who were hoping to see a growing flexibility within the Church, this announcement seems to scream: We’re not changing! Anglicans come join us!
Here is the official Vatican document released today. I’d expect a lot of chatter about this for a while…
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I see this as a strategic move by the catholic church to bump up its membership and do something about the loss of priests. I think they have no choice but to change their stance on celibacy if their going to compete with other churches. The homsexual angle is just a convenient way to justify the changes.
David there is nothing “convenient” about pandering to bigotry to swell your ranks, what it is is disgusting. One would expect “Christ’s vicar on earth” to be operating from a higher standard.
In response to another comment. See in context »