Anglican-Roman Catholic reunification?

[JBigjake]

Two London Times articles: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2080410,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2079938,00.html
IMO, the major problem is the priesthood: married men, women and openly active gays. Will either side bend? Could the Anglican Communion itself schism, with the conservative side seeking to ally with Rome? Would community with the Eastern Orthodox rites be more likely, since they permit married parish priests? If the RC church permitted married &/or female preists, would Anglican churches be satisfied?

[christopher d]

The conservative wing in the Episcopal Church USA is quite the minority, maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the church. For the other churches, the accessibility of Christ's love and redemption for all of humanity is dogma. While the ECUSA and the Canadian Anglican Churches certainly hold minority viewpoints in the wider Anglican communion, I simply can't see any ties to the Bishop of Rome (especially the present one) holding water in North America. And in England, Archbishop Williams is hardly a bastion of the Right. I don't see anything like reunification between these two churches until the Bishop of Rome decides that each human being is unconditionally entitled to express his or her love for Christ and each other how he or she sees fit, up to and including consecration to the Episcopate.

As to a schism within ECUSA, that's a different matter altogether. Some individual parishes have already decided to go that route. Should entire dioceses split and coalesce on the Right, both sides would find themselves in dreadful shape, and I think they know this. While the clergy and lay leadership are rather polarized in their positions, congregants by and large simply aren't. This poses a M.A.D. scenario much like the Cold War, that will keep the strife to Diocesan and General Conventions, and keep the congregants out of it, except for what they read in the papers.

[Caesar]

Two London Times articles: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2080410,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2079938,00.html
IMO, the major problem is the priesthood: married men, women and openly active gays. Will either side bend? Could the Anglican Communion itself schism, with the conservative side seeking to ally with Rome? Would community with the Eastern Orthodox rites be more likely, since they permit married parish priests? If the RC church permitted married &/or female preists, would Anglican churches be satisfied? Not that I ever think reunification will happen, but I don't think that married priests is an non-negotiable issue for Rome... its certainly been considered at high levels in the past. Women and homosexuals are different issues.

I think this is just naturall alliance-building - it makes sense for congregations to work together towards common goals, and when their fundamental doctrines are so similar as CoE and RCC, its natural that they should look towards a closer relationship.

[JBigjake]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11242006/news/worldnews/same_sect_woe_worldnews_frances_demilio__ap__reuters.htm
"there are "serious obstacles" to closer ties"
Will the day ever come for female RC priests? The most similar (IMO) churches, Anglican & Lutheran, already have them & the cathedrals did not collapse.
The next issue should be reworded as "openly" or "practicing" gay bishops, as I expect that there have been a few closeted ones. :D
Gay marriage may be the most difficult of all to resolve, as it remains a problem with the Anglican community itself. Perhaps we need some canonical loopholes here.

[Riz]

With all the settlements from the current clergy sex abuse lawsuits (and those coming down the pike, which are MANY especially in the archdiocese of Los Angeles), the Vatican is more scared than ever to allow married priests or female priests - since either opens the door to succession of pensions and the ever important money to non-diocesan persons. This is the true basis for their concerns, NOT canonical law (which would have to be changed in order for either married priests or female priests to be "recognized" by the Vatican.

Then again, canon law has changed greatly over time already, so that's a shaky position to stand on - imo.

[dj43]

For the RCC to accept married priests should not be such a huge step since Peter was clearly married. In effect, they would just be going back to the Bible.

[DJPoopypants]

For the RCC to accept married priests should not be such a huge step since Peter was clearly married. In effect, they would just be going back to the Bible.

but if they did, they would have to say that an old pope was wrong to mandate clerical celibacy.

But the popes are never wrong on important matters of doctrine. So accepting married priests tosses out the doctrine of papal infalliability. And that's a big deal.

[PsychedelicCeltic]

but if they did, they would have to say that an old pope was wrong to mandate clerical celibacy.

But the popes are never wrong on important matters of doctrine. So accepting married priests tosses out the doctrine of papal infalliability. And that's a big deal.
They already accept married priests. If you're an Anglican priest and switch to the Catholic Church, you remain married.

[Riz]

but if they did, they would have to say that an old pope was wrong to mandate clerical celibacy.

But the popes are never wrong on important matters of doctrine. So accepting married priests tosses out the doctrine of papal infalliability. And that's a big deal.

A good explanation of papal infallibility. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility)

There hasn't been an ex cathedra statement from the pope in ages.

An interesting fact -

The number of infallible pronouncements by ecumenical councils is significantly greater than the number of infallible pronouncements by popes.

[dj43]

but if they did, they would have to say that an old pope was wrong to mandate clerical celibacy.

But the popes are never wrong on important matters of doctrine. So accepting married priests tosses out the doctrine of papal infalliability. And that's a big deal.

And where is the biblical authority for such mandates?

It seems clearly in opposition to much of what Jesus taught. I would specifically mention His admonition that "there is none good but the Father," referring to God.

[GringoTex]

They already accept married priests. If you're an Anglican priest and switch to the Catholic Church, you remain married.

Yes, but you're not supposed to have sex with your wife.

[SgtSchultz]

but if they did, they would have to say that an old pope was wrong to mandate clerical celibacy.

But the popes are never wrong on important matters of doctrine. So accepting married priests tosses out the doctrine of papal infalliability. And that's a big deal.


There is just so many things wrong with your post. To the best of my knowledge the doctrine of infallability has never been used to support the requirement of celibacy. For some reason people on here are fascinated with the Catholic Church even though their only understanding of the organization comes from people who are openly hostile to it.

As for the Anglican-Roman Catholic reunification, it is not going to happen. The divisions are too great. That does not mean, there cant be respect and dialogue.

Both churches are having problems. The Anglican communion is probably fractured beyond repair. Catholics are still reeling from the pedophile scandal. I also think the Church is going to have tons of problem in Africa with priest abusing their position of authority.

[musicl]

For the RCC to accept married priests should not be such a huge step since Peter was clearly married. In effect, they would just be going back to the Bible.But Paul the apostle to the gentiles wasnt.

[TheRightHandofDoom]

Yes, but you're not supposed to have sex with your wife.

But that's probably not that big a deal with all the sexy altar boys running around.

[JBigjake]

They already accept married priests. If you're an Anglican priest and switch to the Catholic Church, you remain married.
This may also be the case for Lutheran priests. Also, many Eastern rites permit some or all of their priests to be married.

[JBigjake]

http://www.optonline.net/News/Article/Feeds?CID=type%3Dxml%26channel%3D32%26article%3D20553049
The US Episcopal Church has some internal problems which it will have to resolve before returning to reunification issues.

[Addon]

I swapped Canterbury for Rome about a year ago, and I have never looked back. However my theology was mostly high-church orientated, and I can't see how evangelical Anglicans could re-unify with Rome, especially since most of them believe that Luther or Calvin got it mostly right.