Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


17

Catholic Church Welcomes Disgruntled Anglicans

Extends a hand to those unhappy with gay bishops, ordained women

Share

(AP) – Pope Benedict XVI has created a new church structure for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church, responding to the disillusionment of some Anglicans over the ordination of women and the election of openly gay bishops. The new provision will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining their Anglican identity and many of their liturgical traditions.

The Vatican's chief doctrinal official says the church has received many requests from Anglicans upset by their church's gay-friendly turn. "At the same time, they have told us the importance of their Anglican traditions." Under the new structure, called Personal Ordinariates, units of faithful will form within local Catholic Churches, headed by former Anglican prelates. An Anglican and Catholic archbishop issued a joint statement saying the new structure was the result of the "ongoing official dialogue" between the churches.

Britain's Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, of the Anglican church and Archbishop Vincent Nichols of the Roman Catholic Church hold a news conference in London concerning the new rules, Oct. 20, 2009.
Britain's Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, of the Anglican church and Archbishop Vincent Nichols of the Roman Catholic Church hold a news conference in London concerning the new rules, Oct. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, listens to Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols, unseen, from the Roman Catholic Church, discusses the new rules for Anglicans joining the Catholic church.
Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, listens to Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols, unseen, from the Roman Catholic Church, discusses the new rules for Anglicans joining the Catholic church.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful from aboard his popemobile, during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful from aboard his popemobile, during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
17 comments
VIEWING:
 
Timinator2K
Oct 20, 09 8:51 AM CDT
And, what do all the good "Gruntled" Anglicans get? Oh yeah, not being controlled by the infallible Pope. Yes, infallible, ALL Popes are considered infallible by the church...although, Popes being human are living contradictions to that view. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
awase61
Oct 20, 09 2:08 PM CDT
Well someone has never even bothered to read the wikipedia article. Pope's are only infallible in very specific moments when speaking on issues of faith and there have been used three times in history including the time where it was defined as such. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
bewilderbeast
Oct 20, 09 9:11 AM CDT
Lessee: A "disgruntled Anglican" would be one who . . . . is pissed off that his church won't let him fondle little altar boys? . . won't forgive his worst sins with a quick "say three Hail Mary's"? . . won't let him openly hate people whose sexual orientation should be none of his business? What? ---- And as far as this "rule change" goes: So the Holy Catholic Church have beaten the fundamentalists to re-writing the bible (or rather, the book they ACTUALLY obey, being their own rulebook). Whatever next? Soon they'll be admitting the earth revolves around the sun! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-3
Derni
Oct 20, 09 9:27 AM CDT
Neat-so the Anglicans will now join a a church that is ALL MALE and has ben dealing with GAYS in the ministry for years and is in need of both ministers and church members-go for it-anti gays join the gay chruch-everyday holds another insight into the lack of logic used by some groups-but then again-with the Anglicans its out in the news-the Roman Catholics try to keep it out of the news. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
doingtherightthing
Oct 20, 09 11:14 AM CDT
Demi.......Angilicans is the church of England which is a Christian sect. There beliefs are very similar to the Catholics with this one exception. They have no head of the church that has the power of the pope to make doctrine. They believe in Gods word. No gay's allowed to lead, practice or participate in Gods house. You don't like Gods laws, to bad, its written in the old and new testament about gays.........I've seen plenty of females attending the Catholic church. Nuns as a example. That shoots your theory that its a all male church doesn't it.........
Vote up! Vote down!
-1

View all 17 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

218 Stories

OPINION

TV's 'Loud and Proud' Gays Should Tone It Down

Outrageous characters may be hurting the cause

Nov 13, 09 10:49 AM CST
(Newser) - There was a time when homosexuality on TV helped the public become more accepting of gays and lesbians, but that time may be over. As the small screen fills with characters like Glee’s Kurt, “the sensitive gay boy who really wants to be a girl,” and a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • gay rights • gay marriage • lesbians • Don't Ask, Don't Tell • celebrity • homosexuality • Rachel Maddow • Adam Lambert • Glee • same-sex couples • gay

DC, Catholic Church
in Gay Rights Standoff

Church to pull plug on social programs if marriage bill passes

Nov 12, 09 3:04 AM CST
(Newser) - The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has told the District of Columbia it will tear up its social service contracts to help the city's needy if it passes a proposed same-sex marriage bill next month. The bill wouldn't require the church to perform or provide space for gay marriages, but would... More »

MORE ABOUT:
gay rights • gay marriage • Catholic Church • Washington DC • social services • District of Columbia • archdiocese

Mormons Back Salt Lake
Gay Rights Law

Church says it won't drop opposition to gay marriage

Nov 11, 09 4:20 AM CST
(Newser) - The Mormon church has come out in support of gay rights legislation for the first time in its history, backing a pair of Salt Lake City ordinances passed yesterday by the city council protecting gays from discrimination in housing and employment. "The church supports these ordinances because they are... More »

MORE ABOUT:
gay rights • gay marriage • Salt Lake City • Utah • Mormon • Mormonism • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

218 Stories

Copyright 2009 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.



World 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
gay rights • Pope Benedict XVI • gay marriage • Catholic Church • Anglican Church • interfaith dialogue • orthodoxy • Roman Catholic Church

from our news partners