English Catholics will welcome former Anglicans: Archbishop Nichols
March 25, 2011
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster has promised that former Anglicans will be “warmly welcomed” into the Catholic Church when they enter the new Anglican ordinariate. The archbishop’s words were evidently designed to ease concerns among Anglicans that they would face resistance from the English Catholic hierarchy, which has shown little enthusiasm for the Anglican ordinariates. Archbishop Nichols, who is also the president of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, said that the emergence of ordinariate should illustrate that the Church is “not afraid of diversity.” The archbishop added that he was confident the Anglicans could be welcomed into the Catholic fold while the hierarchy works to “keep open and positive our relationships with the Church of England.”
Msgr. Keith Newton, the former Anglican bishop who will head the ordinariate in England, said that he was “delighted” with the news that about 900 people will enter the Catholic Church at Easter. “It has not been an easy journey for many but I know they will be greatly blessed,” he said.
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