A Few Updates

Some updates...

* Good news: Anglicans entering the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus will reportedly celebrate Mass ad orientem [For a refresher related to this topic, see: Why Doesn't the Priest Face the People in the 'Tridentine' Mass? (Q & A)]

* The Phoenix bishop who threatened to revoke the Catholic status of a hospital that performed an abortion has extended the deadline until December 21 due to "ongoing communication and attempts to rectify the situation" [Refresher: Catholic teachings against abortion]

* NY's Archbishop Dolan has come to the defense the Catholic League's president. He asserted that the organization's leader "hardly needs me to defend him" and said that he's "glad to express [his] encouragement for the work he does", adding that "Some may take occasional issue with his style. Fair enough, and he’s open to such criticism. Some might even discuss whether the image is offensive. However, no one should doubt the high value and necessity of his efforts, or dismiss him in crude terms." "Keep at it...We need you!", he exclaimed. The prelate also said he "[looks] forward to the day when the work done by the Catholic League is no longer necessary", but notes that "as recent events have proven once again, that day still seems far in the future."

[12/17]

More News Highlights

Some more recent news highlights...

* Pope Benedict met with some 26 victims of the Baghdad cathedral attack who are being treated in Italy along with their relatives in a private audience

* Police are investigating a recent 'series of burglaries' in the Bronx, which have included Catholic schools & churches

* Una Voce recently published its report on the third anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. The report is dated 9/14/10 [Note: See highlights below]

* Under pressure, the Smithsonian pulled a vile video that outraged many Catholics (details of the disgusting video not repeated here). The Smithsonian receives funds from the federal government [That is, your taxpayer dollars]

* Cardinal Bertone recently charged that "Christians are the most persecuted and discriminated against religious group" in the world and he called on the international community to "combat intolerance and discrimination against Christians with the same determination that it battles hatred for members of other religious communities"

* More 'ecumenical craziness': Cardinal Bertone has reportedly given the schismatic Orthodox a relic of the Apostle St. Andrew [Related: Ecumenism (Q & A) | There once was a vacuum cleaner salesman...]

* Anglican update: The ordinariate in Australia reportedly 'may be' established by Easter or Pentecost in 2011. Also, a group of Anglicans in Canada have voted overwhelmingly (90%) to enter the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus

[12/1]

Recent News Highlights

Some recent news highlights...

* Good news: The newly elected future Speaker of the House, John Boehner, a Catholic and 'faithful defender of unborn children', says he wants to be the "most pro-life Speaker ever", according to a LifeNews.com report [Related: Pro-Life Topic Page]

* The planned (illicit) ordination of a bishop in China by the government-backed 'Catholic Patriotic Association' (CPA) will apparently proceed despite the Vatican's disapproval. Cardinal Joseph Zen called the ordination "really shameful", according to a Fox News report

* Archbishop Dolan has been formally installed as president of the USCCB. He will serve a three year term at the helm of the U.S. bishops' conference

* Reports are circulating that Summorum Pontificum is a 'dead letter' in Scotland. Apparently, Catholics' requests for the TLM are being denied there, despite the 7/07 papal document [Related: The Traditional Latin Mass vs. the Novus Ordo (New) Mass]

* A statement has been released regarding the future Ordinariate in England and Wales which indicates that "In collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome, the Bishops of England and Wales have been preparing for the establishment of an Ordinariate early in January 2011." Some converting Anglican leaders will reportedly be ordained "prior to Lent" in 2011 [Related: Anglicanorum Coetibus]

[11/19]

News Highlights

Some recent news highlights...

* Parishioners bailed out a priest accused of abuse in the San Bernardino (CA) Diocese. Hundreds of people raised thousands of dollars to free the priest they believe is innocent

* A "historic Catholic school for girls" in Santa Rosa, California will reportedly close at the end of the school year due to lack of funding. The school was established in 1880 by the Ursuline Sisters

* The attempted assassin of Pope John Paul II, Mehmet Ali Agca, now alleges that "The Vatican government decided on [Pope John Paul II's] assassination." He claims that "The order to shoot the Pope was given by Vatican secretary, Cardinal Agostino Casaroli." Previously, Mehmet Ali Agca - who is believed to be of 'questionable mental health' - claimed to be Christ

* A parish priest in the Democratic Republic of Congo is thought to have been the victim of a "targeted killing" by "an armed man in military uniform". The gunman apparently stopped drivers & asked them if they were priests. He reportedly shot the victim after the priest responded in the affirmative

* The cause for canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has reportedly been halted by the Diocese of Peoria. The Peoria diocese (the late Archbishop's native diocese) apparently hopes the Archdiocese of New York will take up the cause

* More than 20 cemetery markers were toppled at a Catholic cemetery in Ohio this past weekend. This was the second instance of vandalism at the cemetery in the last few months

* The Archdiocese of New York may close 32 schools in "the largest school system reorganization in its history". Proposed closures, resulting from the termination of church subsidies, may affect close to 20% of elementary schools in the archdiocese. A final decision regarding closures is expected in January

* A 'human rights watchdog group' has appealed to the Irish government to investigate alleged abuse in 'prison-style Catholic laundries' ("Magdalene Laundries") from the 1920's - mid 1990's

* Iranian officials are reportedly meeting at the Vatican to discuss ways of "strengthening ties" between the Catholic Church and the largely Muslim country

* A video 'making the rounds' online shows a pie being thrown in the face of the Belgian archbishop who recently made controversial remarks. The incident apparently occurred on All Saints Day

* Donor funds set aside for the training of seminarians in Canada may be used to pay abuse victims if the court okays the Diocese of Bathurst's request. Reportedly "the amount of money in the trust far exceeds its intended use" for seminarians

* Encouraging: The following quote from 'America’s youngest archbishop', the recently named successor to Archbishop Alex Brunett of Seattle, Archbishop-elect J. Peter Sartain, appears on the National Catholic Register website: "One of our challenges in celebrating the sacraments today is to rekindle our understanding of grace - in part, our recognition that in the sacraments Christ does something. I think that we often overemphasize what we do in the liturgy to the detriment of our realization that the sacraments are first and foremost the work of God. We must recapture and savor the mystery of grace."

* Anglican update: Members of the Catholic hierarchy in England are reportedly unhappy regarding the ordinariate structure that will be put in place for Anglicans who enter the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus ("this kind of whole extra wrinkle on top of the complicated structure they've already got", according to an Anglican leader). The Anglican leader also charges that he heard a (liberal) Catholic priest complain that "we've got quite enough traditionalists" in the Catholic Church already without having to have 'traditionalist Anglicans' enter the Church as well. It is also being reported that the Anglican 'Archbishop of Canterbury'*, Rowan Williams, will visit the Vatican next week [*Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)]

[11/10]

News Highlights

Some recent news highlights...

* A Catholic high school in Des Moines was recently evacuated due to a bomb threat. Although notes were found at the school concerning the presence of a bomb, authorities reportedly found 'nothing unusual' and consider the incident to be a 'prank'

* The spokesman for Belgium's archbishop recently resigned after the prelate made some controversial comments. The former spokesperson claimed the archbishop behaved at times like a "loose cannon"

* A BBC report indicates that "At least two Roman Catholic priests have gone missing in Sri Lanka in the past four years." According to the article, one priest vanished in 2006, the other disappeared in 2009. The latter was last seen at a military checkpoint where he was taken for "special questioning"

* Pray the funds are used properly this time: The CCHD collection is set to take place throughout the U.S. on November 20-21

* An AP report indicates that a chapel in Mexico bears a plaque thanking "the leader of one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels", the donor who built the chapel. According to the article, "The revelation has the church distancing itself from the property in central Mexico, while admitting it knows of other donations from drug traffickers"

* So what will be in the tabernacle? Anglicans who enter the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus reportedly may share churches with those who refuse to cast off the heretical Anglican faith - even though Anglican orders are invalid and the Anglican 'eucharist' is mere bread. Anglicans apparently also permit the churches (originally built by Catholics) to be used by assorted Protestant denominations for 'worship' [Commentary: What faithful Catholic cannot see here the great risk of idolatry (Catholics worshiping Protestants' mere bread) and sacrilege (e.g. non-Catholics' mistreatment of the true Eucharist), not to mention the inherent scandal of Catholics using an altar/church also used for heretical 'worship'?]

[11/3]

More News Highlights

Some more recent news highlights...

* For the second time, the Archdiocese of Boston has cleared a priest accused of abuse. The allegation involved alleged abuse in the early 1970's. The attorney for the alleged victim criticized the review process as 'biased and unfair'. The archdiocesan review board investigating the allegations included a retired law enforcement agent, a judge, and abuse victims

* The supposedly 'devout' Catholic president of the Philippines who supports government handouts of contraceptives to poor persons may face excommunication, according to the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Despite the possibility of excommunication, the nation's president says his position "has not changed" [Related: Catholic teachings on contraception (Topic Page)]

* Good riddance: A dissenting Minnesota artist employed by the archdiocese has been suspended after announcing a plan to create a "piece of art" from DVDs supporting true marriage which the archdiocese mailed to Catholics. The artist, who supports homosexual 'marriage', opposed the DVD mailing. Some other misguided parishioners in the area have launched a website to collect the DVDs which they plan to return to the archdiocese [Related: Catholic teachings on homosexuality (Topic Page)]

* Here we go again: California bishops have spoken out against the death penalty in the case of a serial rapist and murderer, citing "human dignity" [Related: Death Penalty (Topic Page)]

* If only the reviews were always reliable: Mormons are now promoting Catholic movie reviews for their "moral analysis" [Related: Catholic Movie Reviews (Topic Page)]

* Not good: It is being reported that a TLM has been cancelled in San Jose due to a dispute among the faithful regarding Mass times (particularly among a "vocal group" of "influential" parish council members). The Mass was well-attended [Related: Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass (Topic Page)]

* Some Anglican 'bishops'* are reportedly "having second thoughts" about entering the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus. Instead, they may "merge" with another group of Anglicans [* Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)]

[9/30]

Anglican Conversions Update

A couple updates regarding Anglican conversions...

* An Anglican 'bishop' ⁽¹⁾ finds some Catholic prelates "unsympathetic" regarding the Pope's efforts to bring Anglicans into the Catholic Church, according to his "leaked" letters. Shamefully, the letters reveal that some Catholic prelates apparently think heretical Anglicans "are best off doing what they are presently doing." The Catholic prelates are also reportedly resisting the Pope's provisions to bring Anglicans into the Church. (Note: Click here for information on the necessity of being Catholic for salvation)

* A group of Anglicans in Australia ("Forward in Faith Australia") has voted to enter the Catholic Church under the special provisions recently issued by Pope Benedict XVI.

[(1) Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)]

[2/17]

News Highlights

The following are some recent news highlights...

* Pope Benedict has announced that a guidebook is being developed to assist couples in preparing for marriage.

* USCCB at it again: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is reportedly sponsoring an event which includes speakers who have been called "prominent anti-Catholic bigots". Speakers include a homosexual activist (related story here) and a priest "forced to resign by the Vatican" over his publishing of articles which question Church teachings.

* Ecumeniacs at it again: Cardinal Kasper has "floated the idea" of an "ecumenical catechism" that would be "written in consultation" with non-Catholics. Anyone doubt the work would conveniently exclude the terms "papal infallibility", "heretic", "schism", and "no salvation outside the Church"? Save us, O Lord!

* An immensely popular daytime television program which has "greatly harmed morality in the U.S." through its airing of scandalous, raunchy, and otherwise offensive content will apparently feature Dominican sisters on an upcoming show. The Oprah Winfrey Show is scheduled to feature the habit-weaning sisters on 2/9/10. The sisters hope the program will "further understanding of religious life."

* A "self-proclaimed anti-Catholic bigot" who is a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has come under fire for his insulting & inaccurate comments about Pope Benedict XVI. Harry Knox has charged the Holy Father with "hurting people in the name of Jesus" over the Pope's opposition to (gravely immoral) c*ntraceptives. News accounts indicate that a coalition of Catholic leaders has sent an open letter to President Obama demanding that Knox be fired.

* Msgr. Michel Schooyans, professor emeritus of the Catholic University of Louvain, has published an essay which discusses "true and bogus compassion in acts and standpoints observable in the world today." He charged the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, and the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life (a organization that is said to be expressing "fear for its future") with "pseudo-compassion" over their response to the recent scandal involving a nine-year old Brazilian girl who had an abortion. He noted that, "Pseudo-compassion, frequently invoked in favor of the perpetrators of acts which are inherently wrong, such as abortion, hence leads to scandal; it invites others into grave sin". He also warned that "'pseudo-compassion' leads to heresy and division."

* An Anglican "Archbishop"* has created a stir by his remarks concerning the Pope's provisions designed to make it easier for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church. The Anglican "prelate"* said: "If people genuinely realize that they want to be Roman Catholic, they should convert properly, and go through catechesis and be made proper Catholics" and noted that "...if I was really, genuinely wanting to convert, I wouldn’t go into an ordinariate. I would actually go into catechesis and become a truly converted Roman Catholic and be accepted." [* Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)]

[2/8]

Highlights From Pope Benedict's Recent Addresses

The following are highlights from recent addresses of the Holy Father...

* The Supreme Pontiff reminded that "Charity is the 'greatest' gift, which gives value to all the others... In the end, when we find ourselves face to face with God, all other gifts will fail and all that will be left to last for eternity is love", and also reminded that "charity is the distinctive mark of Christians. It is the synthesis of all their lives, of what they believe and what they do."

* Pope Benedict noted that "Love is God's very essence, it is the meaning of creation and history, it is the light that gives goodness and beauty to the existence of each man and woman. At the same time love is, so to say, the 'style' of God and of believers, it is the behaviour of those who, responding to the love of God, order their lives as a gift of self to God and to neighbour"

* The Holy Father spoke on the saints & charity: "If we think of the saints, we recognise the variety of their spiritual gifts and their human characters. But the life of each one of them is a hymn to charity, a living canticle to the love of God"

* Pope Benedict recently confirmed his "forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain". He also spoke against dissent, telling the bishops of England and Wales that "In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free."

* The Holy Father furthermore criticized Britain's proposed Equality Bill that would impose "unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs", saying that the legislation "[in] some respects...actually violates the natural law". He also noted that "Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others - on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth." He instructed the bishops to "Continue to insist upon your right to participate in national debate through respectful dialogue with other elements in society. In doing so, you are not only maintaining long-standing British traditions of freedom of expression and honest exchange of opinion, but you are actually giving voice to the convictions of many people who lack the means to express them: when so many of the population claim to be Christian, how could anyone dispute the Gospel’s right to be heard?"

* Pope Benedict called for the bishops to be "generous" in implementing his recent provisions to make it easier for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church, saying that the groups of converts "would be a blessing for the entire Church."

[2/1]

Recent News Highlights

Some recent news highlights include...

* FBI data shows spike in "hate crimes" against Catholics in 2008. Incidents against Catholics jumped from 61 the previous year to 75

* Excommunicated priest from schismatic St. Louis parish says he would be willing to step down if it would help the parish

* Catholic bioethics expert notes that the case of a paralyzed man who was misdiagnosed as comatose for 23 years and who is now communicating shows the "the wisdom of Catholic teaching" regarding the duty of providing sustenance to sick persons

* No surprise here: Pro-abortion 'Catholic' politicians overlook killing of babies to (ignorantly) defend Patrick Kennedy in dispute with Bishop Tobin

* MSNBC's Chris Matthews, a supposed Catholic, has come under fire over his treatment of Bishop Tobin. The host arrogantly & disrespectfully lectured, interrupted and berated the bishop on his television program over the bishop's stand against abortion, while "feigning respect" for the bishop by calling him "Your Excellency"

* Bishop Tobin turns up the heat: Says that maybe Patrick Kennedy should leave the Church if he cannot abide by her teachings

* Regarding proposed healthcare legislation, Cardinal Rigali says that Catholic legislators must reject "any bill that has abortion in it"

* Vatican "expert" releases book supporting Pope John Paul II beatification; Late Pope was said to often practice self-flagellation

* The Catholic bishops of England and Wales have set up a "task force" to assist with the possible exodus of thousands of Anglicans who may be entering the Catholic Church

* The Archdiocese of Baltimore has determined that abuse allegations against a former Cumberland pastor are "credible"

[11/24]

Recent News Highlights

Recent news items of interest...

* The "most senior Catholic in England and Wales" has emphasized that Anglicans who enter the Catholic Church must accept the Pope's authority if they wish to convert

* A new homosexual website is threatening to publicly "out" supposed homosexual priests in the Archdiocese of Washington in an effort to intimidate them from voicing their objections to homosexual 'marriage'

* The CDC has announced that it will no longer require female immigrants to receive the controversial Gardasil vaccination [previous story here]

* Pope Benedict met with hundreds of artists in the Sistine Chapel on Saturday. In his talk, he emphasized beauty, noting that "Beauty, whether that of the natural universe or that expressed in art, precisely because it opens up and broadens the horizons of human awareness, pointing us beyond ourselves, bringing us face to face with the abyss of Infinity, can become a path towards the transcendent, towards the ultimate Mystery, towards God."

* Pope Benedict met privately with the 'archbishop' of Canterbury* on Saturday. The discussions were called "cordial." Days before the meeting, the Anglican 'archbishop' insolently criticized the Catholic Church for her (irreformable!) position against the ordination of women, a teaching which is supported by both Scripture & tradition. [Note: Click here for 'Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests'] During the meeting, the 'archbishop' expressed concerns to the Pope over the handling of the recent Apostolic Constitution which he said put him in an "awkward position." Furthermore, to the confusion and dismay of many Catholics, the 'archbishop' was presented with a pectoral cross - a symbol of bishops' authority.

Just a few questions: (1) Given the mission of the Church and her constant teaching on the necessity of being Catholic for salvation, who cares if a decision of the Supreme Pontiff - a decision which could assist in the salvation of many souls - made a phony 'archbishop' feel he was in an "awkward" position? - In fact, shouldn't certain actions of the Supreme Pontiff actually be expected to make those outside the only true Church of Christ a bit uncomfortable?, and (2) given the fact that the heretical 'archbishop' of Canterbury has invalid orders - and is therefore not a bishop at all - why was this pro-homosexual, pretend prelate given a (real bishop's!) pectoral cross so that he could continue to play dress-up, now in Catholic-provided garb? Such unfortunate gestures are confusing at best.

* Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)

* Amazing: In the wake of controversy over its funding of groups which violate Church teachings, Archbishop Nienstedt and Archbishop Chaput have claimed that that the CCHD - which at one time funded ACORN and has also funded pro-abortion groups - does "much good", despite its "mistakes." [Should we tell that to babies who were killed by abortion?]

* Another writer has added to the mounting criticism of Christopher West's TOB presentations, calling some of his ideas "profoundly troubling." Previously, critics have said that his approach "totally lacks reverence" and is "vulgar and in bad taste." Earlier this year one critic, Alice Von Hildebrand, said she was "shocked and horrified" by West's words.

* A number of Catholic prelates in the U.S. have joined representatives of various non-Catholic religions in signing a document defending "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom." The declaration - "which was more than a year in the making" - includes a pledge that "no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence" and says that "we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent"

[11/21]

Anglicans entering the Catholic Church not really Anglicans?

According to the ever-ecumenical Cardinal Kasper, the group of Anglicans who have decided to enter the Catholic Church under the new provisions established by Pope Benedict are not technically Anglicans. He says that we "cannot close our eyes to the fact that they have not been in communion with Canterbury since 1992" so they are therefore "not technically leaving the Anglican Communion to join the Roman Catholic Church."

[11/16]

Vatican issues Apostolic Constitution

The promised Apostolic Constitution ("Anglicanorum Coetibus") designed to make it easier for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church has been issued. As reported previously, the provisions allow married Anglican (so-called) 'priests'* to be ordained as Catholic priests on a "case-by-case" basis, however "The possibility envisioned by the Apostolic Constitution for some married clergy within the personal ordinariates does not signify any change in the Church's discipline of clerical celibacy", according to the Vatican.

* Reminder: Anglican 'clergy' are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid by the Church: "Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D., emphasis added)

[Related Resource: Why Priestly Celibacy?]

[11/9]

Vatican announcement re: Anglicans (Updated)

A Vatican announcement is expected early Tuesday (10/20). Speculation is that a large number of 'traditional Anglicans' will join the Catholic Church. The group broke with 'mainstream' Anglicans over 'ordinations' of women & homosexuals. [For update, see below]

UPDATE: The Vatican has announced a new structure that will make it easier for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church. The structure is said to allow them to "maintain their Anglican identity and many of their liturgical traditions." The new structure is said to be in response to numerous requests from Anglicans. While the full text of the Apostolic Constitution has yet to be released, reports indicate that one provision will allow married Anglican 'clergy' (Note: They are not true priests - their orders have been ruled invalid) to become Catholic priests (but not bishops) - a special, but not unprecedented exception to the Church's requirement of celibacy. Total number of Anglicans received into the Church may number 500,000, but actual numbers are uncertain. Observers have noted some peculiarities regarding the announcement (e.g. short notice, absence of certain persons, delay in presenting document announced, etc.), leading to much speculation.

[Related Resources: The Importance of Being Catholic: Combating Religious Indifferentism | Why Priestly Celibacy? | Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]

[10/20, updated 10/21]