Anglican Priests Becoming Catholic Priests

Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI

Some Anglican priests are accepting the Vatican’s offer acceptance:

London – In a history-making ceremony, three former Anglican church bishops – all married and with children – were Saturday ordained as Catholic priests, a move they took to protest female ordination in the Anglican Church.

Westminster Bishop Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, ordained the three men – Andrew Burnham, Keith Newton and John Broadhurst – under a new scheme established by the Vatican.

All three men will be permitted to remain married.

The three became the first members of an ordinariate which Pope Benedict XVI had set up specially for Anglicans -either as individuals or in groups – wishing to join the Roman Catholic Church to protest increasing liberalization in the Anglican faith.

The ordination ceremony was attended by hundreds of priests from the Westminster Diocese. Also in attendance were three former Anglican nuns who were officially received into the Catholic Church two weeks earlier.

‘Many ordinations have taken place in this cathedral during the 100 years of its history. But none quite like this,’ Bishop Nichols said. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/uk/news/article_1611971.php/Three-former-Anglican-bishops-ordained-in-Catholic-Church

How many other Anglican priests and members will accept the Vatican’s offer is still unknown. Some will, and others will not.

Now this offer included a little compromising on Rome’s part. For example, the Vatican is allowing the Anglicans to keep much of their liturgy and their leadership. And while there always has been an order within eastern Catholicism that allowed married priests, this has not been the case in the Latin (church of Rome in the west) for many centuries. Of course, early Christian leaders (including bishops) were often married, as the Bible endorses that (1 Timothy 3:2). But Rome has tended to change from some of those practices.

This ordination is an indication to me, at least, that compromise on the behalf of the Vatican will likely be involved as other groups (the Orthodox and Lutherans come to immediate mind) get closer with the Church of Rome. But as Protestantism tends to get more and more liberal, many within it seem to be at least considering the Church of Rome.

But, such ecumenical moves will prove disastrous according to the Bible.

Some articles of possibly related interest include the following:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Women and the New Testament Church Were women important in the New Testament Church? Which women and how were they involved? Are women supposed to be ordained as elders?
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Did the Early Christian Church Practice Monasticism? Does God expect or endorse living in a monastery or nunnery?
Were the Early Duties of Elders/Pastors Mainly Sacramental? What was there Dress? Were the duties of the clergy primarily pastoral or sacramental? Did the clergy dress with special liturgical vestments? Can “bishops” be disqualified as ministers of Christ based on their head coverings?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?