Dear Friends,
The College of Bishops of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada
[ACCC] has submitted a short petition to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith [CDF], requesting that we proceed to the next
step in setting up an Ordinariate in Canada.
As we stated in an accompanying message to our clergy, "Several
compelling reasons have encouraged us to do so, even before Synod:
"the Primate's tour across Canada enabled him to meet with
some 4 to 5 times as many people as we might anticipate would be in
attendance at Synod; and, his presentations have essentially
accomplished that which we promised three years ago - that any
response from Rome would be presented to the national churches of the
Traditional Anglican Communion [TAC];
"acknowledging that there are still some across the country
who have some doubts; and, a few others who will not agree to
communion with Rome under any circumstances, there certain other
reasons that compel us to take the next step somewhat expeditiously;
"in the nearly five months since the release of the Apostolic
Constitution [AC], the rumour mill and the Internet world of bloggers
have clearly had some success in implanting fear, uncertainty and
doubt in the minds of TAC individuals. To some extent this has, in
the minds of these people, pushed backwards a primary stated purpose
since our inception, of the "visible unity" now being offered us in
the Apostolic Constitution, as clearly articulated in the Affirmation
of St Louis;
"we recognize that several of our sister TAC churches
worldwide (England, Guatemala, Australia, the United States) have all
moved toward the next step of endorsing the AC and/or requesting the
formation of Ordinariates;
"we further recognize that, here in Canada, some small groups
of Anglicans, currently not ACCC, have already approached local Roman
Catholic bishops and are preparing to submit requests to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that Rome freely
acknowledged that the TAC was forefront in precipitating the AC, we
would prefer to fall under the direction of an Ordinary here in
Canada who has been part of the process heretofore.
"Therefore, your College of Bishops have undertaken to submit a
letter to the CDF, requesting that the next step be taken towards the
setting up of an Ordinariate here in Canada. This does not displace
further presentation and discussion at Synod in July, as the Primate
will by then presumably have received certain TAC-specific
clarifications on the actual implementation of the AC. We look
forward to seeing you all at this historic Synod in July, and with
the Primate and Bishop Mercer to acclaim our endorsement of the AC by
our Canadian membership."
And following is a copy of the petition to the CDF:.
+Peter
Wilkinson, OSG
Bishop and Metropolitan
Anglican Catholic Church of Canada
The Rt. Rev. Peter D. Wilkinson, OSG
.