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Anglicans' formal bid to join Catholic Church seen as 'starting point'
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although leaders of the Anglican Church in America have formally sought to join the Catholic Church, "we still have a number of questions" about how it would work, said the traditionalist denomination's spokesman. "What we Anglicans are looking for is full sacramental unity," said the Rev. Jeffrey Monroe, Anglican Church in America communications director, in a March 9 telephone interview with Catholic News Service from Conway, N.H., where he is vicar of a parish. The priest also serves as a maritime chaplain for the denomination. "For Anglicans, what is important is that we maintain our rites," Rev. Monroe said. "It is important to us that we maintain our practices, our scriptural focus." The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America voted for their parishes to seek entry into the Catholic Church as a group under the guidelines established in Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic constitution "Anglicanorum Coetibus" ("Groups of Anglicans"), said a March 3 statement. "It's a starting point for all of us, which is very important," Rev. Monroe said. "We are now anticipating further conversations, which we are working our way to. The Roman Catholic Church needs a process just like we did."
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