TAC leader sees over 150 Anglican clerics entering ordinariates

The leader of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) has disclosed that over 150 clerics in his group, including 17 bishops, hope to enter ordinariates within the Catholic Church in the coming year. 

Anglican Archbishop John Hepworth, in a message to members of the TAC, expressed high hopes for the success of the ordinariates—although he revealed that the past year’s negotiations have not always proceeded smoothly.

“There have been exquisite difficulties this year,” Archbishop Hepworth conceded. “We have discovered how little detailed knowledge we have of the way the Catholic Church does things, and Catholic officials have discovered, I believe, their need to acquire a better and more profound knowledge of contemporary Anglicanism.”

However, as plans for the ordinariates advance, the TAC leader reported that 24 priests and one bishop of his group plan to seek ordination to the Catholic priesthood in the English ordinariate, which is to be formed early in 2011.

In the US, Hepworth said, 51 priests and 5 bishops (three of them retired) will seek to join a new ordinariate.

Two Anglican bishops in Central America are asking for ordinariates, the TAC leader disclosed. 

In Canada, three TAC bishops are seeking an ordinariate, and 43 Anglican priests hope to join.

Archbishop Hepworth invited TAC members from Australia and neighboring countries to a meeting that will be held in early February, for those hoping to see an ordinariate established there.

He said that 6 Anglican bishops and 28 priests have already indicated their interest.

SIC: CC/INT'L

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