What is a "former Anglican"?

Fr. John D. Alexander is a rector in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island who blogs at Videtur Quod where he offers a close reading of the Vatican's recent statements. In particular, Father Alexander wonders about the use of the term "former Anglican." If you're wondering what to make of all this Roman Catholic / Anglican news buzz, you might want to explore his questions.

Fr. John D. Alexander blogging at Videtur Quod:

"The background section then includes in its penultimate paragraph references to “many individual Anglicans (who) have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church…” “groups of Anglicans who have entered while preserving some "corporate" structure …” and “some individual parishes in the United States which maintained an Anglican identity when entering the Catholic Church …”

So the unavoidable question is this. Does the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] regard Anglicans who enter into full Communion with the Catholic Church as having ceased to be Anglican (and hence as having become “former Anglicans”)? If so, then what can it possibly mean to “maintain an Anglican identity when entering the Catholic Church”? In other words, if certain Anglican traditions and aspects of Anglican identity are “consistent with the Catholic faith” (seventh paragraph) then why speak of “former Anglicans” at all? Why not speak instead of “Anglicans in full communion with the Catholic Church”?

One approach to the paradox might be to distinguish between different meanings of the term “Anglican.” If by “Anglican” you mean someone in communion with Canterbury and not with Rome, then Anglicans have to become “former Anglicans.” If by “Anglican” you mean someone who adheres to certain traditions of Anglican worship and spirituality consistent with the Catholic faith, then it may be possible to speak of remaining Anglican and yet entering into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church."

FWIW, CDF AKA Holy Office of the Inquisition.

Posted on October 22, 2009 7:30 PM | |
Comments (2)

I personally like the term "Adjectival Anglican" to refer to people who are not in communion with Canterbury but do a lot of Anglican things, like use a version of the Prayer Book, call themselves Anglicans, and so forth. This would include them.

Posted by Michael Lockaby [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 22, 2009 10:17 PM

I think that what the Revd. Alexander, along with many others, fails to comprehend, is that presently this Apostolic Constitution is a direct response to the request for Roman accommodation by a group of folks who indeed are former Anglicans, former because they are no longer in communion with the ABC or part of the Anglican Communion; namely, the Traditional Anglican Communion.

All the other sound and fury about other Anglo-Catholic groups in the US and the UK is mere speculation by folks who are in love with the sound of their own voice. Although the opportunity is there for other groups, this is addressed to the request of the TAC.

And as far as all the speculation about what liturgies they might use, it likely already exists in the Book of Divine Worship approved for the previous Anglican accommodation that exists in the USA in isolated congregations

Posted by David Allen |dah • veed| [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 23, 2009 1:47 AM

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