Anglicanorum coetibus
In November 2009, the Holy See published the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus - providing for Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said in response to the publication:
“I welcome the publication of the Apostolic Constitution and the Complementary Norms. This now makes clear the provision made by the Holy See and enables those who have made requests to the Holy See to study it in detail.
“It is important to remember that this is a response to requests made to the Holy See by Anglicans and former Anglicans from across the world. It is not a provision specifically for England and Wales and clearly there is much reflection to be done by all concerned.”
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Below you will find the Apostolic Constitution: Anglicanorum coetibus, Complementary Norms and a press statement issued in Rome.
Apostolic Constitution: Anglicanorum coetibus - English (MS Word)
Anglicanorum coetibus: Complementary Norms - English (MS Word)
Vatican press release on the publication of Anglicanorum coetibus (MS Word)
Audio
The President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, spoke about the Constitution after the bishops' November 2009 meeting at a press conference in London.
The bishops warmly received the Anglicanorum coetibus, and its generosity towards those seeking full visible communion with the Holy See. They established a Commission to consider in detail the next steps in this process in England and Wales. They strongly reaffirmed their continuing commitment to ecumenical relations, working for the unity of his disciples for which Christ prayed (John 17:20-21). In particular, they looked forward to the next regular meeting with the Bishops of the Church of England ever seeking to deepen the shared mission to proclaim the Good News to the society in which we live.
Anglicanorum Coetibus Commission
Responding readily to the provisions of Anglicanorum coetibus, the Bishops’ Conference established a commission of Bishops and advisers to consider the next steps which may arise in this process.
"The Commission is therefore available for consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (cf. Anglicanorum coetibus 1§1) and to offer advice and guidance to Diocesan Bishops. Given the faculty for members of an Ordinariate “to maintain the liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, as a precious gift nourishing the faith of the members of the Ordinariate and as a treasure to be shared”(Anglicanorum coetibus III), the Commission is to advise the Bishops’ Conference on transitional arrangements for the reception of groups of Anglicans, should such requests arise. The Commission is also to consider those articles of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus and the Complementary Norms that refer to the responsibilities of the Bishops’ Conference and to present suggestions for their fulfilment. The Episcopal members of the Commission are to be Archbishop-elect Bernard Longley, Bishop Malcolm McMahon and Bishop Alan Hopes."*
Listen
Journalists' questions on the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus (mp3)
Statement made on the announcement of the Apostolic Constitution (Oct 09)
Joint Statement by The Archbishop of Westminster and The Archbishop of Canterbury
Today’s announcement of the Apostolic Constitution is a response by Pope Benedict XVI to a number of requests over the past few years to the Holy See from groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and are willing to declare that they share a common Catholic faith and accept the Petrine ministry as willed by Christ for his Church.
Pope Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony.
The announcement of this Apostolic Constitution brings to an end a period of uncertainty for such groups who have nurtured hopes of new ways of embracing unity with the Catholic Church. It will now be up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution.
The Apostolic Constitution is further recognition of the substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition. Without the dialogues of the past forty years, this recognition would not have been possible, nor would hopes for full visible unity have been nurtured. In this sense, this Apostolic Constitution is one consequence of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
The on-going official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion provides the basis for our continuing cooperation. The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) agreements make clear the path we will follow together.
With God’s grace and prayer we are determined that our on-going mutual commitment and consultation on these and other matters should continue to be strengthened. Locally, in the spirit of IARCCUM, we look forward to building on the pattern of shared meetings between the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Church of England’s House of Bishops with a focus on our common mission. Joint days of reflection and prayer were begun in Leeds in 2006 and continued in Lambeth in 2008, and further meetings are in preparation. This close cooperation will continue as we grow together in unity and mission, in witness to the Gospel in our country, and in the Church at large.
+ Rowan Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury
+ Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
London
20 October 2009
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CDF press release: Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering the Catholic Church (pdf)