Wuerl to lead incorporation of Anglicans into Catholic Church

The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has named Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C. to guide the incorporation of Anglican groups into the Catholic Church in the United States.

According to a news release today from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Wuerl will lead the American effort to implement Pope Benedict XVI's plan for Anglican groups who seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Wuerl is a Pittsburgh native and former bishop of Pittsburgh.

Under the plan, Anglicans can be part of the Catholic Church while maintaining aspects of their Anglican heritage and liturgical practice, according to the release.

Archbishop Wuerl will head a committee that includes Bishops Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, Texas, and Robert McManus of Worcester, Mass.

The committee will be assisted by Father Scott Hurd, who was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1993, joined the Catholic Church in 1996, and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 2000.

SIC: PGC/USA