Scottish Catholic Observer

The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has announced the details of the new Anglican ordinariate that will allow for the reception of Anglican individuals and communities into the Catholic Church.

The bishops announced that the ordinate would be set up from January of next year, with many converts expected to enter the Catholic Church next Easter.

“Five Anglican Bishops who currently intend to enter the Ordinariate have already announced their decision to resign from pastoral ministry in the Church of England with effect from 31 December 2010,” the conference said in a statement released today.

“They will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church early in January 2011. During the same month, it is expected that the Decree establishing the Ordinariate will be issued and the name of the Ordinary to be appointed announced. Soon afterwards, those non-retired former Anglican Bishops whose petitions to be ordained are accepted by the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith], will be ordained to the Catholic Diaconate and Priesthood for service in the Ordinariate.”

The bishops added that they expected the Ordinariate to ‘enrich’ the spiritual life of the Catholic Church.

“In responding generously and offering a warm welcome to those seeking full ecclesial communion with the Catholic Church within the Ordinariate, the bishops know that the clergy and faithful who are on that journey of faith will bring their own spiritual treasures which will further enrich the spiritual life of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The bishops will do all they can to ensure that there is effective and close collaboration with the Ordinariate both at diocesan and parish levels,” they said.

The bishops also announced the dioceses of England and Wales have pooled £250,000 to fund the Ordinariate at a press conference held by Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster(above) on friday.