Washington D.C., Oct 20, 2009 / 13:31 pm
Responding to the announcement of a new apostolic constitution to assist Anglicans in entering the Catholic Church, Cardinal Francis George has said the provision will serve the unity of the Church. An Episcopalian spokesman said the full implications of the action are still being studied and ecumenical dialogue will continue.
On Tuesday Cardinal William Levada announced that an apostolic constitution had been prepared to respond to the “many requests” from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful who wanted to enter full communion with the Catholic Church. The ecclesiastical structure will preserve elements of Anglican traditions and could help hundreds of thousands of Anglicans become Catholics.
“The USCCB stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of that Provision in our country,” Cardinal George, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said in a Tuesday statement.
Echoing Cardinal Levada, he explained that the new Anglican provision responds to a number of requests from groups of Anglicans seeking “corporate reunion.” He said the provision also recognizes the desire of some Anglicans and Episcopalians to live the Catholic Faith “in full, visible communion with the See of Peter” while also retaining some elements of their liturgical, spiritual and ecclesial traditions which are “consistent with the Catholic faith.”