Vatican releases document for integration of Anglicans joining Catholic Church

(November 9, 2009) The Vatican on Monday released a document of Pope Benedict XVI formally starting the process of creating a special structure for Anglicans who want to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving aspects of their Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage. Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Constitution titled “Anglicanorum Coetibus" is in response to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church. Along with the Apostolic Constitution, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also issued a set of norms to serve as guidelines to the correct interpretation and implementation Apostolic Constitution. The Church’s new provision for Anglicans would establish what are called "personal ordinariates" - similar to dioceses - to oversee the pastoral care of those who want to bring elements of their Anglican identity into the Catholic Church with them. The Vatican's decision to allow Anglicans to keep some aspects of their liturgy raised questions over whether the Roman Catholic requirement for celibacy might change. But it said on Monday the possibility of some married Anglican clergy remaining priests after converting “does not signify any change” in the requirement for celibate clergy. Last October 20, when the provision was announced, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that married Anglican priests will join the church on a case-by-case basis.