Former Anglican bishops given title of 'monsignor'
March 17, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the title of “monsignor” on the three former Anglican bishops who entered the Catholic Church in January.
Msgr. Keith Newton, who will lead the new Anglican ordinariate in Great Britain, has been named an Apostolic Pronotary, as has Msgr. John Broadhurst. Msgr. Andrew Burnham is now a Prelate of Honor. While each rank carries the title of “Monsignor,” an Apostolic Pronotary holds the highest ecclesiastical title available to clerics who are not bishops.
The norms published by the Vatican to accompany the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus accorded special privileges to Anglican bishops who enter the Catholic ordinariates. With permission from the Holy See they may “use the insignia of the episcopal office” even if they are not Catholic bishops, and may be invited to join in the work of episcopal conferences “with the equivalent status of a retired bishop.” The Vatican norms made it clear that the Anglican leaders who give up their episcopal office in order to enter the Catholic Church should be accorded special respect.
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