Archbishop of York: Ordinariates don't make for 'proper Catholics'
John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, tells BBC "Sunday Sequence" host William Crawley that while the Vatican's offer to Anglicans would make them subject to Ordinariates, they still wouldn't be thoroughgoing Catholics.
If people genuinely realise that they want to be Roman Catholic, they should convert properly, and go through catechesis and be made proper Catholics. This kind of creation [the Apostolic Constitution] -- well, all I can say is, we wish them every blessing and may the Lord encourage them. But as far as I am concerned, if I was really, genuinely wanting to convert, I wouldn't go into an Ordinariate. I would actually go into catechesis and become a truly converted Roman Catholic and be accepted.
The Telegraph's Damian Thompson, meanwhile, takes umbrage at Sentamu's sentiments.
Dr Sentamu is displaying what appears to be deplorable ignorance. To put the record straight: any Anglican joining the Ordinariate will be as Catholic as the Pope. It’s as simple as that. Hat-tip to an Anglican friend who intends to follow this course of action and, like me, is outraged at Dr Sentamu’s misrepresentation.....
Dr Sentamu is perfectly entitled to criticise the Pope’s offer and to discourage Anglicans from leaving the Church of England. What is he is not allowed to do is mislead the public about the status of those people who convert under the provisions of Anglicanorum coetibus, for they will be true converts and true Catholics.
He should apologise immediately.
Hear the Sentamu interview here. It begins at 1:06:38; his thoughts on Anglicans received as Catholics starts at 1:15:20.
Full text of Anglican Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus
The Archbishop of York need not worry: those in "Anglican Ordinariates" will indeed be required to undergo catechesis and become "thorough going Catholics."
In addition, they will be re-confirmed.
What they won't be is "proper Anglicans" anymore!
Posted by Chris Epting![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 7, 2010 5:12 PM
Chris, one could make the point that these folks have not been "Proper Anglicans" for some time now. Especially since the Ordinariates are aimed at the TAC. But they will not be "re"-anything. As far as Rome and Benny6teen are concerned, all these folks are just baptized. Period.
Posted by David Allen |dah • veed|![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 7, 2010 6:16 PM
Converts. No. If they were Jewish or Hindu or Muslim or Druid and became Roman Catholics they would be in the process of conversion of faith, i.e., preparing for Baptism, by first being catechumens, then the elect, and finally mystagogues. What will happen to Anglicans wishing to become R.C. is that they will be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church (Latin Rite).
The National Statutes for the Catechumenate of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops--at least in my 1986 edition of the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults--makes emphatically clear that "[t]hose who have already been baptized in another Church or ecclesial community should not be treated as catechumens or so designated. Their doctrinal and spiritual preparation for reception into full Catholic should be determined according to the individual case...." The rite would include a profession of faith (Nicene Creed) and a profession of belief in all things Roman Catholic (from the Magesterium to the Roman Pontiff); confirmation [remember, Anglican orders are invalid and Anglicans are an ecclesial community, not a church]; and Holy Communion [remember, Anglican orders are invalid, &c].
In most Roman Catholic parishes there is precious little difference made between catechumens and candidates for reception into full communion. The statutes state that it is preferable that catechumens be baptized, confirmed, and receive first communion at the Easter Vigil; candidates should be received at the regular Sunday Eucharist.
We do not know what will be required by the specific statutes concerning reception of candidates into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church via the Anglican ordinariate scheme.
It was Paul VI upon meeting with Michael Ramsey who referred to Anglicans as "our beloved sister Church" and "by entering into our house, you are entering your own house, we are happy to open our door and heart to you." Sadly, both have been dead for quite some years.
Posted by James Mackay![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 7, 2010 9:47 PM
They'll be true and proper Romans all right (Anglicanorum Coetibus not withstanding).
Whether they---like other Popoids---are "Catholic", IMO varies on a case-by-case basis! ["Popoids," as distinguished from True Vatican2 RCs, to whom I mean no offense---indeed, w/ true admiration for their embattled status under the last two regressive Papacies...]
JC Fisher
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 8, 2010 5:15 PM