Per Christum Catholic Blog

According to speculation by Ruth Gledhill, Pope Benedict XVI may be reaching out to Anglicans in a real way in 2007. This is really just speculation at this point, but the possibility of an Anglican Rite or an expansion of the Anglican Use program would be very interesting. William Tighe, one of the most learned and intelligent Catholics online, suggests that in January a few Episcopal bishops are going to retire. At least one (who ordains women) will become Catholic, reverting to the Catholic faith of his childhood, but there is a possibility both bishops will swim the Tiber. I have no idea who they are. Anybody know whom William Tighe has in mind? Either way, this is a move that would certainly put pressure on the Catholic Church to do something more substantial for Anglicans who want to be Catholic, but wish to retain their Anglican heritage. According to Tighe (see the comments in the post of Gledhill above), Bishop Nazir-Ali of the Church of England is aware of this, and it will be a major point of discussion when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams visits the Vatican.

Some may think the Catholic Church is being merely opportunistic here. I disagree. I think this quote from Gledhill’s blog gets at the heart of the matter:

All the evidence from the US, and indeed England, is that churches that embrace wholeheartedly the liberal agenda fall into inexorable decline. Sometimes even pretty rapid decline.

That isn’t meant to be a judgemental statement on liberalism. From a secular perspective, and just for the record, I myself endorse gay rights, women’s rights and the rest.

But the facts speak for themselves. Liberalism in the Anglican Communion is proving to be a recipe for decline. If that’s what the liberals want, then fine.

But what a wonderful opportunity for an imaginative Pope, to set up a personal prelature for traditionalist Anglicans to find a home in.

The Anglican Communion now consists of mostly reformed evangelicals or mainline Protestant progressives, and these two parties are the future of the Anglican Communion. Since the 1960s, the Anglican church has moved farther and farther away from Orthodoxy or Catholicism, so official reunions with these Churches seem unlikely. So maybe it is finally time for the pope to reach out to traditionalist Anglicans, who are simply looking for a good home. In fairness, I see nothing wrong with Anglican leaders reaching out to our disgruntled progressives.

We live in interesting times to say the least. As a former Anglican, I believe the Catholic Church can benefit from embracing the best of Anglicanism, including Anglican priests themselves. Plus, if classical Anglicans know how to do anything, it is produce good liturgy, and we could sure use some of that!