wfn.org | Statement by The Archbishop of Westminster and The Archbishop of Canterbury

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Joint Statement by The Archbishop of Westminster and The Archbishop 
of Canterbury

Posted On : October 20, 2009 11:37 AM | Posted By : Admin ACO
Related Categories: Lambeth

ACNS: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/10/20/ACNS4662

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.

> + Vincent + Rowan

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