The individual parishioners could convert, of course, as we did, but not the parish as a unit.
That Rite has now been expanded to include the rest of the world.
It may REALLY catch on in England. Much will depend on the Archbishop of Canterbury's willingness to let these folks depart with their property.
Since the Church of England is withering away, and has literally thousands of church buildings that it cannot afford to keep up, this shouldn't be a problem unless the Archbishop's pride gets in the way.
He looked like his dog died at that joint press conference.
“It may REALLY catch on in England.”
It really might.
But I don't think it will have much to do with property. My understanding is that there are significant numbers of Catholic churches that are being shuttered, and many Anglican Catholic parishes could use them.
But I think that what might start out as a modest stream of converted priests and parishes could turn into something more. I think it will depend heavily on where the Church of England goes next.
The Church of England will certainly begin to consecrate women “bishops.” This is the latest breach with Catholic faith and practice that is driving much of the current crisis. My understanding is that there are easily a thousand Anglican priests in the Church of England who find this intolerable.
Initially, I expect that only a modest number of these will take the pope up on his offer.
But what happens next may drive the bulk of them out afterwards.
There have been negotiations to permit clerics opposed to female “bishops” the right to be supervised by male bishops only. But the folks pushing female “bishops” have been adamant in not granting this dispensation, and have been adamant in demanding that EVERYONE accept female “bishops.” With the new Apostolic Constitution, I think that this strengthens the hand of the liberals, and permits them to say, “If this violates the traditionalists’ conscience so much, the path is clear for them to leave.”
I think it's very likely that no consideration will be given for the traditionalists when female “bishops” are approved. Then the traditionalists will have a stark choice - violate their consciences, or leave for Rome.
And it may come to pass that a large number of those thousand Anglican priests will swim the Tiber.
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