The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on April 9, 2019, issued Complementary Norms of the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum coetibus”.
In an article published in today’s “L’Osservatore Romano” regarding the Complementary Norms of the Apostolic Constitution “Anglicanorum coetibus”, the author Nicola Gori explains that in 2009 Benedict XVI signed the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus on the institution of personal Ordinariates for Anglicans who enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, in response to requests from some Anglican groups who wished to be received, also corporately, in full Catholic communion. Currently, there exist three Ordinariates: Our Lady of Walsingham in England, the Chair of Saint Peter in the United States of America, and Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Australia.
The 2009 constitution provides general norms, integrated with complementary norms. During the ten years that have passed since its publication, some suggestions and theological indications have been received, both ecumenical and in relation to canon law, to make the application of the provisions more consistent with the spirit of the Apostolic Constitution. This led to a new version of these norms, decided by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope Francis on 8 March this year.
“In more detail”, Gori explains, “in Article 4, where reference is made to the Ordinariate which has the faculty of incardinating into the Ordinariate the Anglican ministers who have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church, in the revised complementary provisions particular reference is made to those who are already incardinated in a diocese by virtue of the Pastoral Provision and the candidates belonging to the Ordinariate promoted by him to the Sacred Orders”. In addition, “clerics who are about to be incardinated in the Ordinariate must be uncardinated from their original dioceses”.
As Gori reiterates, the Pastoral Provision, authorized by Saint John Paul II in 1980, was created in 1980 in the United States of America to receive married former Anglican priests in the Catholic ordained ministry.
“With regard to the faithful of the Ordinariate, dealt with by Article 5, the new Complementary Norms specify the case of a person who has been validly baptized in another ecclesial community outside the Catholic Church”, the author continues. “When such a person expresses the wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, thanks to the efforts and the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate, he may be admitted and belong to the Ordinariate from the moment in which he enters into full communion and receives the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist. Furthermore, it should be underlined that this is applied also to those who have not been validly baptized, but who again thanks to the evangelizing action of the Ordinariate have discovered the faith so as to receive all the sacraments of initiation”.
In Article 10, regarding the clergy, a further novelty is introduced. While in previous paragraph 2, it was specified that the “candidates may receive other aspects of priestly formation at a seminary program or house of formation established, with the consent of the Governing Council, expressly for the purpose of transmitting Anglican patrimony”. In the new Complementary Norms, the same paragraph 2 states that “Ordinariate Seminarians will receive their theological formation with other seminarians at a seminary or theological faculty in agreement with the Diocesan Bishop or Bishops concerned”. By adding that such candidates “may receive other aspects of priestly formation”, the norm is simplified and adapted to current needs. Again in Article 10, regarding the clergy, in paragraph 5 it is added that the Ordinariate, for the purpose of the continuing formation of its clergy, will promote participation both “in local programs for formation provided by the Episcopal Conference and the Diocesan Bishop” and “in their own programs of ongoing formation”.
In the new Complementary Norms, an entire article has been added, number 15, dedicated to the celebration of Divine Worship. It is acknowledged that the Missal proper to the personal Ordinariates, entitled “Divine Worship”, namely the form approved by the Holy See for use by the Ordinariate, expresses and preserves for Catholic worship “the worthy Anglican liturgical patrimony, understood as that which has nourished the Catholic faith throughout the history of the Anglican tradition and prompted aspirations towards ecclesial unity”.
This is the reason for the emphasis that public liturgical worship following Divine Worship is limited to the personal Ordinariates, as established by the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, explains Gori. “Any priest incardinated in the Ordinariate is authorized to celebrate using Divine Worship. This applies outside the parishes of the Ordinariate when the priest celebrates Mass without the participation of the faithful, and also publicly with the permission of the rector or parish priest of the church or of the parish concerned. Furthermore, when pastoral needs demand it, or in the absence of a priest incardinated in an Ordinariate, if requested, any priest incardinated in the diocese or in an institute of consecrated life or of a society of apostolic life can celebrate in accordance with Divine Worship for the members of the Ordinariate. Finally, it is granted to any priest incardinated in the diocese or in an institute of consecrated life or in a society of apostolic life to concelebrate following Divine Worship”.
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Complementary Norms
for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus
Jurisdiction of the Holy See
Article 1
Each Ordinariate is subject to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It maintains close relations with the other Roman Dicasteries in accordance with their competence.
Relations with Episcopal Conferences and Diocesan Bishops
Article 2
§1. The Ordinary follows the directives of the national Episcopal Conference insofar as this is consistent with the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus §2. The Ordinary is a member of the respective Episcopal Conference.
Article 3
The Ordinary, in the exercise of this office, must maintain close ties of communion with the Bishop of the Diocese in which the Ordinariate is present in order to coordinate its pastoral activity with the pastoral program of the Diocese.
The Ordinary
Article 4
§1. The Ordinary may be a bishop or a presbyter appointed by the Roman Pontiff ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, based on a terna presented by the Governing Council. Canon Law 383-388, 392-394, and 396-398, of the Code of Canon Law, apply to him.
§2. The Ordinary has the faculty to incardinate in the Ordinariate former Anglican ministers who have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church; particularly those already incardinated in a diocese by virtue of the Pastoral Provision; as well as candidates belonging to the Ordinariate and promoted to Holy Orders by him. Clerics incardinating into the Ordinariate must excardinate from their former Diocese.
§3. Having first consulted with the Episcopal Conference and obtained the consent of the Governing Council and the approval of the Holy See, the Ordinary can erect as needed territorial deaneries supervised by a delegate of the Ordinary covering the faithful of multiple personal parishes.
The Faithful of the Ordinariate
Article 5
§1. The lay faithful originally of the Anglican tradition who wish to belong to the Ordinariate, after having made their Profession of Faith and received the Sacraments of Initiation, with due regard for Canon 845, are to be entered in the apposite register of the Ordinariate. Those who have received all of the Sacraments of Initiation outside the Ordinariate are not ordinarily eligible for membership, unless they are members of a family belonging to the Ordinariate.
§2. A person who has been baptized in the Catholic Church but who has not completed the Sacraments of Initiation, and subsequently returns to the faith and practice of the Church as a result of the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate, may be admitted to membership in the Ordinariate and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or the Sacrament of the Eucharist or both.1
§3. A person, who has been validly baptized in another Ecclesial Community outside of the Catholic Church, and subsequently desires to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church through the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate, may be admitted to membership in the Ordinariate upon reception into full communion and conferral of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Also, this applies to the case of those not being validly baptized that have come to the faith through the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate and therefore receive in it all of the sacraments of initiation.
§4. Lay faithful and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, when they collaborate in pastoral or charitable activities, whether diocesan or parochial, are subject to the Diocesan Bishop or to the pastor of the place; in which case the power of the Diocesan Bishop or pastor is exercised jointly with that of the Ordinary and the pastor of the Ordinariate.
The Clergy
Article 6
§1. In order to admit candidates to Holy Orders the Ordinary must obtain the consent of the Governing Council. In consideration of Anglican ecclesial tradition and practice, the Ordinary may present to the Holy Father a request for the admission of married men to the presbyterate in the Ordinariate, after a process of discernment based on objective criteria and the needs of the Ordinariate. These objective criteria are determined by the Ordinary in consultation with the local Episcopal Conference and must be approved by the Holy See.
§2. Those who have been previously ordained in the Catholic Church and subsequently have become Anglicans, may not exercise sacred ministry in the Ordinariate. Anglican clergy who are in irregular marriage situations may not be accepted for Holy Orders in the Ordinariate.
§3. Presbyters incardinated in the Ordinariate receive the necessary faculties from the Ordinary.
Article 7
§1 The Ordinary must ensure that adequate remuneration be provided to the clergy incardinated in the Ordinariate, and must provide for their needs in the event of sickness, disability, and old age.
§2 The Ordinary will enter into discussion with the Episcopal Conference about resources and funds which might be made available for the care of the clergy of the Ordinariate.
§3. When necessary, priests, with the permission of the Ordinary, may engage in a secular profession compatible with the exercise of priestly ministry (cf. CIC, can. 286).
Article 8
§1. The presbyters, while constituting the presbyterate of the Ordinariate, are eligible for membership in the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese in which they exercise pastoral care of the faithful of the Ordinariate (cf. CIC, can. 498, §2).
§2. Priests and Deacons incardinated in the Ordinariate may be members of the Pastoral Council of the Diocese in which they exercise their ministry, in accordance with the manner determined by the Diocesan Bishop (cf. CIC, can. 512, §1).
Article 9
§1. The clerics incardinated in the Ordinariate should be available to assist the Diocese in which they have a domicile or quasi-domicile, where it is deemed suitable for the pastoral care of the faithful. In such cases they are subject to the Diocesan Bishop in respect to that which pertains to the pastoral charge or office they receive.
§2. Where and when it is deemed suitable, clergy incardinated in a Diocese or in an Institute of Consecrated Life or a Society of Apostolic Life, with the written consent of their respective Diocesan Bishop or their Superior, can collaborate in the pastoral care of the Ordinariate. In such case they are subject to the Ordinary in respect to that which pertains to the pastoral charge or office they receive.
§3. In the cases treated in the preceding paragraphs there should be a written agreement between the Ordinary and the Diocesan Bishop or the Superior of the Institute of Consecrated Life or the Moderator of the Society of Apostolic Life, in which the terms of collaboration and all that pertains to the means of support are clearly established.
Article 10
§1. Formation of the clergy of the Ordinariate should accomplish two objectives: 1) joint formation with diocesan seminarians in accordance with local circumstances; 2) formation, in full harmony with Catholic tradition, in those aspects of the Anglican patrimony that are of particular value.
§2. Ordinariate Seminarians will receive their theological formation with other seminarians at a seminary or theological faculty in agreement with the Diocesan Bishop or Bishops concerned. Candidates may receive other aspects of priestly formation at a seminary program or house of formation established, with the consent of the Governing Council, expressly for the purpose of transmitting Anglican patrimony.
§3. The Ordinariate must have its own Program of Priestly Formation, approved by the Holy See; each house of formation should draw up its own rule, approved by the Ordinary (cf. CIC, can. 242, §1).
§4. The Ordinary may accept as seminarians only those faithful who belong to a personal parish or community of the Ordinariate or who were previously Anglican and have established full communion with the Catholic Church.
§5. The Ordinariate sees to the continuing formation of its clergy, through their participation in local programs for formation provided by the Episcopal Conference and the Diocesan Bishop, as well as in their own programs of ongoing formation.
Former Anglican Bishops
Article 11
§1. A married former Anglican Bishop is eligible to be appointed Ordinary. In such a case he is to be ordained a priest in the Catholic Church and then exercises pastoral and sacramental ministry within the Ordinariate with full jurisdictional authority.
§2. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate may be called upon to assist the Ordinary in the administration of the Ordinariate.
§3. A former Anglican Bishop who belongs to the Ordinariate and who has not been ordained as a bishop in the Catholic Church, may request permission from the Holy See to use the insignia of the episcopal office.
The Governing Council
Article 12
§1. The Governing Council, in accord with Statutes which the Ordinary must approve, will have the rights and responsibilities accorded by the Code of Canon Law to the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council.
§2. In addition to these responsibilities, the Ordinary needs the consent of the Governing Council to:
- admit a candidate to Holy Orders;
- erect or suppress a personal parish;
- erect or suppress a house of formation;
- approve a program of formation.
§3. The Ordinary also consults the Governing Council concerning the pastoral activities of the Ordinariate and the principles governing the formation of clergy.
§4. The Governing Council has a deliberative vote:
- when choosing a terna of names to submit to the Holy See for the appointment of the Ordinary;
- when proposing changes to the Complementary Norms of the Ordinariate to present to the Holy See;
- when formulating the Statutes of the Governing Council, the Statutes of the Pastoral Council, and the Rule for houses of formation.
§5. The Governing Council is composed according to the Statutes of the Council. Half of the membership is elected by the priests of the Ordinariate.
The Pastoral Council
Article 13
§1. The Pastoral Council, constituted by the Ordinary, offers advice regarding the pastoral activity of the Ordinariate.
§2. The Pastoral Council, whose president is the Ordinary, is governed by Statutes approved by the Ordinary.
The Personal Parishes
Article 14
§1. The pastor may be assisted in the pastoral care of the parish by the parochial vicar, appointed by the Ordinary; a pastoral council and a finance council must be established in the Parish.
§2. If there is no vicar, in the event of absence, incapacity, or death of a pastor, the pastor of the territorial parish in which the church of the personal parish is located can exercise his faculties as pastor so as to supply what is needed.
§3. For the pastoral care of the faithful who live within the boundaries of a Diocese in which no personal parish has been erected, the Ordinary, having heard the opinion of the local Diocesan Bishop, can make provisions for quasi-parishes (cf. CIC, can. 516, §1).
The Celebration of Divine Worship
Article 15
§1. Divine Worship, the liturgical form approved by the Holy See for use in the Ordinariate, gives expression to and preserves for Catholic worship the worthy Anglican liturgical patrimony, understood as that which has nourished the Catholic faith throughout the history of the Anglican tradition and prompted aspirations towards ecclesial unity.
§2. Public liturgical celebration according to Divine Worship is restricted to the Personal Ordinariates established under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. Any priest incardinated in an Ordinariate may celebrate according to Divine Worship outside the parishes of the Ordinariate when celebrating Mass without a congregation, or publicly with the permission of the rector/pastor of the corresponding church or parish.
§3. In cases of pastoral necessity or in the absence of a priest incardinated in an Ordinariate, any priest incardinated in a Diocese or in an Institute of Consecrated Life or Society of Apostolic Life may celebrate according to Divine Worship for members of the Ordinariate who request it. Any priest incardinated in a Diocese or in an Institute of Consecrated Life or Society of Apostolic Life may concelebrate Mass according to Divine Worship.
The Supreme Pope Francis, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect on March 8, 2019, approved this updated version of the Complementary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, adopted in the Ordinary Session of the Congregation, and ordered its publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, March 19, 2019, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church.
Luis F. Card. LADARIA, S.I.
Prefect
X Giacomo MORANDI
Archbishop tit. of Cerveteri
Secretary
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1 This paragraph was added to the text of the Complementary Norms according to a decision of the Ordinary Session held on 29 May 2013, approved by Pope Francis on 31 May 2013.
