Anglicans going to Rome are not "proper Catholics"

BBC ^ | February 6, 2010 | William Crawley

[NYer]

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, says those Anglicans who respond to Pope Benedict's invitation to join the Catholic Church under the provisions of the new Apostolic Constitution, would not be "proper Catholics". You can listen to the interview in full on this week's Sunday Sequence (Sunday, from 8.30am).

In the same interview, Dr Sentamu also called for the banning of the British National Party and says he is "surprised that Parliament doesn't want to do it." He also says he has "every hope" that [Robert] Mugabe will be gone very soon."

Here's part of the exchange I had with Dr Sentamu on this week's Sunday Sequence:

Archbishop Sentamu: "If people genuinely realise that they want to be Roman Catholic, they should convert properly, and go through catechesis and be made proper Catholics. This kind of creation [the Apostolic Constitution] -- well, all I can say is, we wish them every blessing and may the Lord encourage them. But as far as I am concerned, if I was really, genuinely wanting to convert, I wouldn't go into an Ordinariate. I would actually go into catechesis and become a truly converted Roman Catholic and be accepted."

William Crawley: "So those Anglicans who take advantage of the Apostolic Constitution, you're saying, would not be 'proper Catholics'?"

Archbishop Sentamu: "Well, I mean, I'd be very surprised --"

William Crawley: "What would they be if they are not 'proper Catholics'?"

Archbishop Sentamu: "They would be what they are: an Ordinariate of the Vatican."

William Crawley: "Anglican Émigrés?"

Archbishop Sentamu: "(Laughter) Well, if I was a Roman Catholic bishop and I had this group within my diocese being looked after by an Ordinariate whose reference was back to the Vatican, I'd have to ask a number of questions."

[AnAmericanMother]

The Catholic "style" people tend to be homosexual and theatrical types. They like the smells and bells and fancy vestments and elaborate ceremonial, for all the wrong reasons.

They are NOT coming over. Not even thinking about it. They have (in their view) the best of both worlds right where they are. Why should they change?

The Oxford Movement folks are the ones who are jumping ship. Their theology is quite Catholic.

[bobjam]

“The Catholic “style” people tend to be homosexual and theatrical type”

True. The more liberal churches are usually like that. I’ve always called it “liturgical theater.”

[trad_anglican]

I think it's fair to say that we thought we were Catholics, but as it turned out we were mistaken.

Very well said.

[Cronos]

Sorry, Dr John Sentamu, they ARE real Catholics — many may be better Catholics than cradle Catholics

[Cronos]

Unfortunately, there are also now more practicing Muslims in the UK than practicing Anglicans, so the problem is more dire than just for Anglicans.

[Cronos]

“In fact, that’s the reason that more liberal Catholics are having ten fits about welcoming the Anglicans . . . because these guys are extremely orthodox and conservative and will not support guitar masses, ordination of women, liturgical dance, or fuzzy theology.” — and that’s why we say HOORAY! the Anglicans are coming :)

[Cronos]

"I don’t see how such Catholics will be any less “proper Catholics” than those who attend Maronite, Ruthenian, or Ukrainian parishes. Aren’t the Eastern Catholic Churches independent of the local Latin bishop? If the Archbishop of Philadelphia can sleep at night knowing that there are Eastern parishes with his geographical jurisdiction, I think the Archbishop of Westminster will be able to manage while knowing that there are Anglican Ordinariate parishes out there which are not under his pastoral jurisdiction."

well put