December 28 - Anglicans Joining Catholic Church: Not Much Will Change

As the Jan. 1, 2012 date given for the creation of a Roman Catholic Ordinariate, or church body, for disaffected Anglicans draws near, some departing churches say they do not expect significant differences in their worship and practice.

Some congregations that have severed their ties with the Episcopal Church have petitioned the pope to become part of the Catholic Church, under the condition that they retain elements of Anglican tradition, also known as “Anglican Patrimony.”

“There are going to be some changes, but not something foreign to the Anglican Patrimony,” said Campese, who added that he had “no more information than that at this time.”

“Not much changed. As an Anglo-Catholic parish we accepted, with few exceptions, all the Catholic Church taught,” said Lewis.

The Anglican Church was created back in the 16th century when King Henry VIII of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church after being denied an annulment from his first marriage. Initially identical in doctrine and practice, gradually the two became different as the Anglican Church adopted the Book of Common Prayer.

Nearly five centuries later, traditional churches once belonging to the Anglican Communion have found themselves at odds with their denomination’s ordination of women and growing tolerance for homosexuality.

While many Anglican Churches decided to break away and form their own conservative sects, some have decided to return to the very church tradition their denomination broke away from back in the days of the Tudor Monarchs.