Can We Join? Catholic-Anglican Relations

by Alex Snider

On October 20, 2009 the Vatican issued a document called the Apostolic Constitution. This document allows Anglican churches to recognize the Pope as their leader and enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. This is the biggest step toward unifying these two churches since King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534, when Pope Clement VII refused to grant him an annulment from Catherine of Aragon.

This document is in response to the large number of recent petitions sent to the Vatican from Anglican congregations wishing to become Catholic. The amount of these petitions has increased in the past few years due to the controversial decisions of ordaining women and openly homosexual clergy.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Inquisition, has stated that these new Anglican converts will be allowed to keep their traditions and liturgies. This includes ordination of clergy who are already married. A visitor to one of these churches will see all of the original parts of the service that are Anglican, only they will be in a Catholic church.

This move brings up the question of “Why now?” Why has the Pope decided this is the right time to accept those Anglicans who think their church is too liberal? Maybe the Pope is simply trying to unify the body of Christ. One possible answer is the added funds the Vatican will see from these new members. More members means more money. Perhaps a better reason is that the Vatican has realized their doctrinal similarities with the Anglicans.

Is the Reformed tradition next? I wouldn’t hold my breath.

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