Cardinal says Anglicans who become Catholic can enrich church

Published: 2006-06-12

SCRANTON, Pa. (CNS) -- Cardinal Avery Dulles, one of the most notable Catholic converts in modern times, said his journey to the faith has been a "wonderful adventure" and expressed hope that Anglicans coming into full communion with the Catholic Church will enrich their new church with their Anglican traditions. The 87-year-old U.S. theologian was the keynote speaker at the Anglican Use Conference held June 5-6 in the Scranton Diocese. "Conversion to Catholicism" was the theme of the conference. The two-day gathering explored the pastoral provision that the Vatican approved in 1980 allowing retention of some elements of Anglican identity in liturgy when a number of Episcopalians from the same congregation or the same area enter full Catholic communion. That provision was included when the Vatican granted permission for special U.S. procedures to admit into the Catholic priesthood former Episcopalian priests who have become Catholic. More than 80 former Episcopalian priests, including about 70 who were married, have become Catholic priests under those procedures.

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