It Depends on What the Definition of "Corporate" Is

As a postscript to my last article, I thought that I would add one clarification regarding what are legitimate aspirations for "corporate" reunion (as opposed to the demands of some leaders of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada).

Certainly it is not at all unreasonable — all things being equal — for an existing Anglican jurisdiction to desire that discussions with the Catholic Church engage the appointed leaders of that ecclesial group (were these officials rightfully able to conduct them).  After all, the Apostolic Constitution is called "Groups of Anglicans."

It has been suggested by some partisans that Archbishop Collins has shown himself reluctant to communicate directly with the TAC group in Canada.  I do not know this to be true (at least in the sense that some have claimed).  Again, all things being equal, this would likely be an error on his part — and contrary to the spirit (if not the letter) of Anglicanorum Coetibus.  However I can full well understand the Archbishop's reluctance to deal with the leadership of the ACCC given their party line (as I described in my last post).  "Our way or the highway" is not conducive to productive dialogue.

To request that the Church hold joint discussions with the leadership of those communities contemplating full communion with the Holy See is perfectly reasonable.  So too is it justifiable that an existing fellowship of Anglicans petition for some group identity once they have come into the Catholic Church.

But the hardline position of certain ACCC leaders that their group simply become the Canadian Personal Ordinariate is rightfully unacceptable to the Catholic Church.

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Thank you, also, to the several Canadian lay members of the ACCC who have already emailed me personally to share their concurrence with my earlier evaluation of the situation.  My prayers are with you all!

Some have noted their reluctance to speak publicly for fear of recrimination from their leadership.  This should be a wake-up call to all.  The time for petty politics and posturing is over.  People are hurting and no one and no thing should now presume or be allowed to stand in the way of Christian Unity.

May God bless Bishop Wilkinson and those good people of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada who are willing and ready to make a go at forming a faithful personal ordinariate in the country!  May all of the leadership and people recognize that to follow the call of Christ the King may require some discomfort, privation, and sacrifice.  This has and will continue to be the case for all of the Anglican groups who have committed themselves to respond to the Holy Father's most generous offer.

Related posts:

Statement from Archbishop CollinsA Prayer for CanadaIt Depends on What the Meaning of the Word "Ecumenism" IsLooking for Some Virtue in this StoryMyth # 4: This is a disguised strategy by the Roman Catholic Church to make us convert individually rather than granting the possibility of true corporate reunion. Christian Clay Columba Campbell is a Roman Catholic of the Anglican Use. As Senior Warden of the Cathedral of the Incarnation (Orlando, FL), he organized the process by which the parish accepted the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, petitioning to join the Catholic Church. He is also the CEO of Three Fish Consulting, LLC, an Information Technology consultancy based in Orlando, FL. He can be reached via email at ccampbell at threefish dot co.

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