November 29, 2010. The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, said in Rome that the Anglican and Catholic Churches are working together on a new stage, which he described as a “positive” one. Nichols praised the reaction by the Primate of the Anglican Church, Rowan Williams, following the entry of five Anglican bishops into the Catholic Church.  Rowan Williams said he still has “a profound respect” for those that have left the Church.  



Mons. Vincent Nichols
President, Episcopal Conference of England and Wales
“It is his nobility of spirit that indicates to people what is good about the Ordinariate as a response. And I think we ought to pay attention to the words of Pope Benedict, when he sees in the Ordinariate an opportunity for us two churches to discover in practice what shared patrimony we have.”

It was also recently announced that 50 priests will go to the Catholic Church in 2011, when an Ordinariate will be set up. Between January and June these communities will be created within the Catholic Church after leaving the Anglican Church.

Mons. Vincent Nichols
President, Episcopal Conference of England and Wales
“Sometime in the new year, and the first comparatively small group of communities of Anglicans with their priests will begin to join the Ordinariate in a a process that will take place between January and Pentecost. And then after that we will see.”

Following the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI to allow entry of entire Anglican communities and priests into the Catholic Church, both sides have referenced the Blessed John Henry Newman. This cardinal who was born in 1801, left the Anglican Church when he was 44.

Mons. Vincent Nichols
President, Episcopal Conference of England and Wales
“He took up again with his friends in the church of England, as we do today, that we are friends with fellow bishops in the Church of England and in need together we have a single mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus in our country.”

Benedict XVI beatified Cardinal Newman during his recent trip to the UK, at a ceremony in Birmingham which was attended by 70,000 people from England, Scotland and Wales.  The Pope introduced him as one of the leading scholars of his time and an example both for Anglicans to Catholics.

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