If KJS and Fred are touchy about the cross border issue this must come as a bombshell. They have no one to complain to and they are not welcome unless thay come as simple priests.

I am stretching the limits of my church history knowledge here, but I believe Anglo-Catholicism and liberal Anglicanism share origins in the Oxford Movement, which itself attempted to show that Anglicanism had no particular doctrinal identity as such, and was more about a unity around rites and hierarchy. In other words, Anglo-Catholicism, at least insofar as it stems from the Oxford Movement, finds its source in the evisceration of the authority of the 39 Articles. The fact that they’re not interested in having lesbian priestesses or whatever has obscured the fact that they aren’t technically conservative Anglicans. If I’m wrong about all that, someone can correct me.

Thoughts?

What Anglo-Catholics believe is fiercely debated, sometimes even among Anglo-Catholics themselves.

Whether they are technically conservative Amglicans or not is a matter of opinion.

To sum it up — the blog post is extremely confused.

http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/fgavin/chicago1933.html

Do you think Newman’s words are prophetic when applied to the African church?

The “Anglican Use” parishes in North America are only established through the permission of the local Catholic bishop, and there has been a lack of uniformity in the approach & implementation.

The new Personal Ordinariate structure is like a non-territorial diocese whose Ordinary will usually be appointed from among former Anglican clergy (a Bishop or priest). Therefore there is more hierarchical structure and opportunity for adaptation in this new approach than before.

Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which has prepared this provision, said: “We have been trying to meet the requests for full communion that have come to us from Anglicans in different parts of the world in recent years in a uniform and equitable way. With this proposal the Church wants to respond to the legitimate aspirations of these Anglican groups for full and visible unity with the Bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter.”

For the full details one has to wait for the publication of the Apostolic Constitution which will spell everything out. But here is a link to the initial details from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24513.php?index=24513&lang=it

A primary “target audience” for this is the Traditional Anglican Communion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Anglican_Communion) with 16 member churches from all major continents, that is pursuing union with the Catholic Church:

“The College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) met in Plenary Session in Portsmouth, England, in the first week of October 2007. The Bishops and Vicars-General unanimously agreed to the text of a letter to the See of Rome seeking full, corporate, sacramental union. The letter was signed solemnly by all the College and entrusted to the Primate and two bishops chosen by the College to be presented to the Holy See.” (Statement authorised by Archbishop Hepworth, Oct 16 2007)

For Archbishop Hepworth’s response to today’s news, see here: http://www.themessenger.com.au/Annoucements/20091020.html

I pray that Newman will not be prophetic re Africa. I suspect that those who agree with him might say that African Anglicans are still a young body, with a robust and healthy orthodoxy because of its relatively recent evangelization, and that a decline into liberalism is inevitable there as well. As Liberal Anglicans believe as well.

As for Archbishop Hepworth’s response several glaring points need to be addressed.
“We are profoundly moved by the generosity of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. He offers in this Apostolic Constitution the means for “former Anglicans to enter into the fullness of communion with the Catholic Church”. OK so TAC is not “Anglican” -
“The See of Augustine remains a focus of our pilgrim way, as it was in ages of faith in the past”. I wonder what the percentage of that focus is? I once took it upon myself to ask many of my RC brethren who was the leader of their church? all save one said the Pope. The point being that the RC church has so weakened the personal relationship with Jesus, that it is hard to find “in the midst thereof”.

Never mind cross-border intervention this is cross border shopping plain and simple. (its a good thing I’m not ACNA Archbishop) I thank God for the Man who is!!!!!

Back to ++Hepworth- “Both his reaction and our petition are fruits of a century of prayer for Christian unity,” - Christian unity is NOT church unity, Church unity was broken (”as it was in ages of faith in the past”. ) When Rome ceased to place Jesus FIRST and remain equal with the other Archbishops in Christendom. Herein is what MUST be corrected for true church unity. Than Spiritual Unity that our Lord prayed for “2B1″ can be visioned. It ain’t gonna happen folks - to much EGO and not enough Jesus!