Over the past couple of weeks, the big news in the circles I roam in has been the Anglican-Catholic reunification. I’ll explain why this is so profound, but first here’s a video that does a solid job describing the situation:
To explain this important situation in every more down-to-earth language, below I’ve copied and pasted my translation of the events. The following is a response to a friend on Facebook who initially believed–due to the general media’s complete misunderstanding of the state of affairs–that the Catholic Church was aiming to “steal” converts from the Anglican tradition:
“I’m sure you understand the history between Anglicanism and the Catholic Church as a history major, and recognize the many similarities. Anglicans are closer to Catholics than pretty much any other Protestant denomination is. Recognizing the similarities in belief and practice, the major differences between the two traditions are the ordination of gay and female clergy (which many Anglican clergy disagree with) and the authority of the Pope (whereas Anglicans follow the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Rowan Williams).
Now, I don’t think it would be outlandish to say that the Catholic Church, more than any other corporate body of Christians, is committed to Christian unity. Catholics believe that denominational divisiveness is counter to God’s heart; there are 30,000+ Protestant denominations. The Catholic Church earnestly echo the prayer of Jesus to be ‘one as [Jesus] and the Father are one’.
So with all that understood, I think your fundamental misunderstanding lies in the way that you’re viewing ‘stealing converts’. They aren’t notches on a belt for the Catholic Church, and Catholicism isn’t competing with other denominations for converts. Catholics truly believe that the Catholic Church is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and that everyone else left it 500 years ago; so welcoming other Christians back isn’t ‘converting’, it’s a ‘welcoming home’.
So instead of a ‘theft of souls, the special provisions that the Pope is proposing to the Anglicans is a tremendous, wide-armed ‘welcome’. He basically issued a proposal that makes it easier for Anglican priests to be welcomed into the Church as ordained, Catholic clergy regardless of whether or not they’re married (whereas traditionally Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy). These former-Anglican priests would also be allowed to practice the Anglican Use of the Mass which has the characteristics of the liturgy they are used to. So they keep many of their practical customs–including their Book of Common Prayer–while gaining the unity and theology of the Church that has maintained many of the traditional teachings that the Anglican Church has diverged from.
The Catholic Church is basically taking actions that proclaim “we want the family to be united again so badly that we are making the transition as smooth as possible.” They’re not trying to build up their storehouse of converts, but instead are running out to welcome the prodigals.
It seems to be a very opportune time to propose this welcome. If my favorite ice cream store sold chocolate chip ice cream WITH chocolate chips, fudge, and brownies, and your favorite ice cream store served plain chocolate ice cream, you may be satisfied with your store and never consider visiting mine. But if your store one day decided that they would stop selling chocolate ice cream and only sell orange sherbet, it may be a good time for me to suggest that you consider my store.
Overall, it’s pretty historic. I believe that in our generation we will see these two traditions reunite once more, which I imagine will only bring joy to the Father’s heart.”
This story has managed to remain somewhat under the radar, which is quite unsettling considering the possibilities that lay dormant within. For the first time in half a millennium, we may see the unification of two of the largest Christian traditions in the world. And, to top it off, this reunification may also pave the way for reunification with the Orthodox Church as well. I will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of all of these events, as many within the Christian world should.
And I will be praying–as Jesus did and does–for us all one day to become one Church once more.