Nota

FIRST: "That remains a problem for me..." (Rorate Caeli, July 10, 2008):

Are our hopes for a mass conversion of the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church of England, to be dashed once again?

... John Broadhurst, Anglican Bishop of Fulham and Chairman of Forward in Faith (representing some 800 parishes and a considerable number of Anglo-Catholic priests in UK, North America and Australia), has released a statement that, while deploring the decision of the Church of England to consecrate women bishops, also downplays news reports of imminent mass conversions to Catholicism.

My problem then was that, although there was great generosity, there was no offer of an ecclesial reconciliation. In other words, our common Eucharistic and spiritual life was not recognised. That remains a problem for me.

Indeed. As Rorate Caeli comments: "Reconciliation with Rome depends on Rome's recognition that it shares a 'common Eucharistic and spiritual life' with the Anglo-Catholics; (This can scarcely be interpreted in any other way than as a demand that Rome first recognize the validity of Anglican Orders -- which will never happen)." Prayer. The only way forward.

SECOND: Brian Mershon, "PCED confirms officially: Society of St. Pius X within the Church, not in formal schism; Catholics commit no sin nor incur any canonical penalty for Mass attendance" (Renew America, July 11, 2008). Mr. Mershon discusses a letter dated May 23, 2008, from Msgr. Camille Perl, Vice President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) responding to questions he invoked regarding the official canonical status of the Society of St. Pius X and those Catholics who attend their chapels to fulfill their Sunday obligation. [On the question of fidelity to Rome, see my "For the Record," Musings, December 1, 2007)]