ANGLICAN CHURCH CONGREGATION IN LEICESTER CONSIDERS CONVERTING TO CATHOLICISM

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

 

Anglican church congregation in Leicester considers converting to Catholicism

The congregation at one of the oldest Anglican churches in Leicester is considering converting to Catholicism.

About 50 members of St Mary de Castro's congregation met Catholic leaders yesterday to discuss the move.

It followed the Pope's invitation last year to disaffected Anglicans, who feel their Church has become too liberal, to convert to Roman Catholicism.

Pope Benedict XVI's decree would allow traditionalist Anglicans to accept all Roman Catholic doctrine and teachings while maintaining aspects of the Anglican tradition.

Nine-hundred-year-old St Mary de Castro, in Castle Street, near St Nicholas Circle, is already an Anglo-Catholic church.

Anglo-Catholics agree with most the Roman Catholic church teachings, but use the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer and hold Evensong. They would still be able to do if that, if they moved to the Catholic church.

Terry Doughty, from Leicester's West End, organised yesterday's meeting.

He said he believed that if a vote took place now, the majority of the congregation would stay as they are, but added there was lots more to discuss before a decision was reached.

"The Church of England has deviated from traditional beliefs and has become more liberal in its way of looking at things – for some it has become too liberal," said Mr Doughty.

"Women as bishops is one of the reasons traditionalists are unhappy."

He said there were "certainly members of this congregation who would want to take up the Pope's generous offer".

"It's hard to say what could, or might happen until more discussions are held at a higher level," added Mr Doughty.

He said if the congregation did convert, he believed the church building would "in all probability remain with the diocese and those who wanted to become Catholic would have to worship elsewhere".

The Church of England's ruling General Synod voted in 2008 to consecrate women as bishops.

Churchwarden Joyce Levell and her husband, Frank, from Groby, both said they were against female bishops and would support a move to Catholicism if a vote took place.

Mr Levell, 78, said: "There's not a lot of difference between Anglo-Catholic and Roman Catholic.

"I wouldn't be opposed to joining up with the Catholic church if things continue and I think a lot of people within the church share my views."

Father Leon Pereira, prior at the Catholic Holy Cross Priory, in Leicester, was at yesterday's talks and answered questions.

He said: "Recent developments have made them sit up and think their church is not Catholic, whereas they have always had this mindset they were very much linked to Catholicism."

The Archdeacon of Leicester, the Ven Richard Atkinson, said he valued the Catholic church but hoped Anglo-Catholics would remain within the Church of England.

He said: "The invitation is a fundamental shift in identity. It's not that simple.

"Our focus is working closely with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in the county but I'm surprised by the Pope's offer, which I believe is untimely and unhelpful.

"The whole church is in a careful process of deciding how we can respect and celebrate the role of women."