Sunday, August 24, 2008

Anyone for Schadenfreude? What Roman Catholics fear from an Anglican split

From The Economist earlier this month

"But there are other, less sentimental reasons why the Catholic hierarchy dreads a split. In particular, the acceptance into the Catholic church of large numbers of married Anglican clerics would make it harder for the Vatican to hold its already shaky line on priestly celibacy. Since 1980, when rules were drawn up for the reception of Anglican clerics (some of whom were unhappy at the prospect of women priests in their Communion), more than 80 have taken the leap worldwide. Most are married. Catherine Pepinster, the editor of a liberal Catholic weekly, the Tablet, says that in Britain most Catholics feel that these priests “bring something beneficial to their ministry. They understand people’s married lives, and that is appreciated.”

http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11900559

1 comment:

Timothy said...

>"In particular, the acceptance into the Catholic church of large numbers of married Anglican clerics would make it harder for the Vatican to hold its already shaky line on priestly celibacy"

Nah, that's an overstatement. The number of married Anglican priests that would convert is a minuscule fraction compared to the number of Catholic priests worldwide.

God bless...

+Timothy