In his post today entitled An Anglican Uniate Rite, the Pontificator (former Anglican Fr. Alvin Kimel) discusses his experience the past few days at the Anglican Use Conference in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was there to answer questions from Anglicans who are thinking of becoming Catholics. He also mentioned this, in response to someone else's posted comment about Anglican clergy considering the Catholic Church:
"In his talk given today at the Anglican Use conference, David Mills shared that he had recently received an email from a prominent churchman (ECUSA or Continuing Anglican was not, as I recall, specified) in which the person insisted that he would never become Catholic unless an “Anglican Rite” was guaranteed. David said that he thought this attitude was spiritual hubris. I agree. If one believes that the Bishop of Rome is indeed the Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff of the Church, then one simply must become Catholic. If one does not believe this, one must not become Catholic. Period. Truth always triumphs over style."
Quite so. A lot of people want changes in the liturgy. We do not all want the same changes. There is plenty of room within the Catholic Church for people who want to increase truth and beauty in the liturgy. For people who are already Catholic in heart and mind, wanting to work toward a more beautiful and more accurate liturgy is one more reason for wanting to become Catholic, not a good reason for waiting.
Under a Pastoral Provision, married Anglican priests can seek to be received into the Catholic Church as Catholic clergy after some transitional education and requirements.
More on the Anglican Use Conference here:
Pontifications posting from May 8
St. Thomas More Society of St. Clare Church, which co-hosted the event
Event Announcement mentioning Avery Cardinal Dulles as keynote speaker
Pastoral Provision website for Episcopal/Anglican clergy who want to become Catholic clergy
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