The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith announced on March 26 that the “Anglican heritage” present in personal ordinariates within the Catholic Church is a lasting reality and makes a distinctive contribution to evangelization efforts.
The statement underscores the significance of these ordinariates, which were established under Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 apostolic constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus.” The document emphasizes that this Anglican patrimony is “a living reality” aimed at transmitting faith to future generations. According to the Vatican, these ordinariates bring with them traditions from nearly five centuries of Anglican development after the Reformation and provide “a unique reflection of the face of the Church and a distinctive contribution to the living richness of her identity as ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.'”
The release follows a meeting held from March 1-3 between bishops leading personal ordinariates and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, head of the dicastery. Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter said, “The document affirms that there is a distinctive way that the faith was lived and celebrated and articulated in an English context, and that distinctive way is still valid and, in fact, fruitful for the evangelizing mission of the Church today.”
The Vatican document identifies seven key traits characterizing this patrimony: a particular ecclesial ethos involving both clergy and laity; evangelization through beauty; direct outreach to those in need; pastoral culture; focus on family life; strong tradition in Scripture-based preaching; spiritual direction; and emphasis on penance. It also notes how elements such as beauty in worship are closely tied with outreach to poor communities.
Bishop Lopes explained how parishes like St. Thomas More Parish in Scranton integrate beautiful worship with social service by working within some of Pennsylvania’s poorest neighborhoods. He added about Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore: “And people are serving breakfast Saturday morning at the bus stop to the folks at the methadone clinic across from church.” He said these examples show how worship inspires concrete acts among those most vulnerable.
Addressing misconceptions about their role, Lopes stated: “There’s something distinctive, and unique, and properly its own that the ordinariate is meant to live, and therefore contribute to vitality within Catholic communion.” The Vatican’s position clarifies that these communities are not merely transitional but have an ongoing role within global Catholicism.
