I realize that at times my posts about the Anglican Church may seem bitter and twisted. I don’t actually wish to come across that way, and I genuinely love the Anglican Church and am grateful for fifteen years serving Christ in that beautiful tradition. I am also sad at the parlous state of the Anglican Communion chronicled here.
With that in mind, I would like to make a personal offer to all Anglicans–especially clergy–who hold to the historic faith. Being in communion with the Bishop of Rome is not really what you expect it will be. If you were to become a Catholic it would be both more glorious and more awful than you think. Awful because you really do submit yourself to the Catholic Church and that is hard. More glorious because the graces you will receive through this submission and this step of faith will overwhelm you with goodness.
As the Anglican Church again faces a crisis of identity I would like to re-assure Anglicans of a Catholic persuasion that there is a real, positive option for you. You may, tomorrow, approach a Catholic bishop or priest and seek rapid reception into the Catholic Church. You may join those who are seeking to be part of the establishment of the new Anglican Ordinariate. Either of these ways forward will help you to belong fully to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
There are organizations to help you do this: in America the Coming Home Network. In England the St Barnabas Society. In whatever way I can, I am also willing to help. Feel free to drop me a line to find out what it is really like as a former Anglican Catholic priest. I am also happy to renew my offer of a free copy of my book of mostly Anglican conversion stories, The Path to Rome for any bona fide Anglican clergyman (or woman). Just email me through the contact page on my website.
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