Anglicanorum coetibus - "Groups of Anglicans"
By his own initiative in November 2009, the Pope has restored the place in the Church for Anglo-Catholics, rejoining them to the holy See of Rome, without inserting them in the fold of the Latin church or under the bishops thereof.
He has 'made room' again in the universal Church for true believers now long estranged from the Holy See of Rome, separated from which salvation itself is risked by loss of Faith. By doing so, the Holy Father has provided yet another concrete example of applying the law of the Church to assure within Her Household due 'space' for tradition-minded Catholics in the West -- and the East -- wishing to live at peace with the Holy See.
The NCCL apostolate encourages Christians and all men of good will to read - by clicking here - the motu proprio, Anglicanorum coetibus.
To assist its study, NCCL has prepared annotations to the linked text in footnotes.
(Click on this link to read the Constitution on the Vatican's website.)
Besides the cause for joy this gracious act is in itself, it also is of special significance for traditional Catholics of the Latin church and the Eastern churches, as well as for Eastern Orthodox faithful to tradition.
Since the Pope has created for the Anglo-traditionalists of the Western Church the equivalent of their own sui iuris (self-governing) ritual church, it stands to reason he is open to do similar for the traditionalists of the Latin church. And certainly the way is opened more broadly to recognize the self-governing status of the even more sizable Orthodox churches.
Catholics by and large have registered faint appreciation for the historic deed His Holiness has performed by this single act, essentially reversing nearly 500 years of separation and alienation from the Holy See of an assembly of Christians with roots tracing back (even when not in every case intact) to Apostolic times.
Anglicans or/and Anglo-Catholics wishing to avail of the Constitution's provisions may contact NCCL's Executive Director, Gregory Lloyd, M.A, for discreet counsel and to discern concrete means of availing of the new law's unique provisions.
They should therefore also feel free to ask Mr. Lloyd for the text of the "Constitution & its Complementary Norms" in pamphlet form, with notes explaining the meanings and immediate implications of the the Holy See's law. (The same text, but without page numbers, can be downloaded by clicking on the links above, or the link in the box at the bottom of this web page.)
NCCL - Attn: G. Lloyd
621 Jordan Circle
Whitehall, PA 18052-7119 USA
610/435-2634
Or, via e-mail -- coalition(at)fast(dot)net .
May the Lord preserve our Holy Father, Benedict XVI.
May He give him long life and protect him in this life, and reserve for him the reward of the just.
God grant him many years!
Anglicanorum coetibus & Complementary Norms,
with annotations - download
You may print the pamphlet containing the motu proprio and annotations added by NCCL.
Click on the link below.