A Deo et Rege

Pope Paul VI made some excellent points in Humanae Vitae about married love.
Essentially married love is fully human, total, faithful, and fertile. In
today’s society, and sadly even among some Christian groups, such a position is
radical. And radically needed.

From Humanae Vitae
(emphases mine):

[Married] love is above all fully human, a compound of sense and spirit. It is not, then,
merely a question of natural instinct or emotional drive. It is also, and above
all, an act of the free will, whose trust is such that it is meant not only to
survive the joys and sorrows of daily life, but also to grow, so that husband
and wife become in a way one heart and one soul, and together attain their
human fulfillment.

It is a love which is total—that very special form of personal friendship in which
husband and wife generously share everything, allowing no unreasonable
exceptions and not thinking solely of their own convenience. Whoever really
loves his partner loves not only for what he receives, but loves that partner
for the partner’s own sake, content to be able to enrich the other with the
gift of himself.

Married love is also faithful and exclusive of all other, and this until death. This is
how husband and wife understood it on the day on which, fully aware of what
they were doing, they freely vowed themselves to one another in marriage.
Though this fidelity of husband and wife sometimes presents difficulties, no
one has the right to assert that it is impossible; it is, on the contrary,
always honorable and meritorious. The example of countless married couples
proves not only that fidelity is in accord with the nature of marriage, but
also that it is the source of profound and enduring happiness.

Finally, this love is fecund [i.e. fertile]. It is not confined wholly to the loving
interchange of husband and wife; it also contrives to go beyond this to bring
new life into being. "Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature
ordained toward the procreation and education of children. Children are really
the supreme gift of marriage and contribute in the highest degree to their
parents’ welfare.

The idea of Anglican Uniatism has been a topic of discussion among many Catholic and Anglican blogs (e.g. TitusOneNine, Pontifications, Against the Grain, Land of Hope and Glory and here). Many Anglicans, especially traditional Anglo-Catholics, like the idea in theory because it would mean a) Anglicans would become Catholic and in communion with the Pope and b) they would keep their beautiful liturgy and music and their unique customs. The Catholic Church would benefit in a couple ways too because a) good music and good liturgy could only be a positive influence on Catholics since sometimes we can be, ahem, lacking in both and b) this may be a golden mission opportunity to bring thousands (hundreds of thousands?) into the Catholic Church. However, alleged secret meetings with the Pope among Continuing groups aside, there are still many issues that would have to be resolved. I’m assuming now that these talks would be with traditional Anglo-Catholics or Continuing groups because issues like women’s ordination and practicing gay leaders would be an impediment that couldn’t be resolved from the Catholic perspective. Even with those issues lacking, here are a few of the big problems that would need resolution:

1. A Married Episcopate- I can see no way that the Catholic Church would allow this, except maybe giving a dispensation for the first generation. After that, I’d say no way. No apostolic body currently permits this. Even the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox, which allow married priests, take their bishops from the celibate.

2. Anglican Orders- Although the so-called "Dutch Touch" may have clouded the issue slightly, the Catholic Church still officially considers Anglican orders invalid. Whatever group comes to Rome will probably have to accept some form of re-ordination.

3. The History- We have histories that have gone in totally different directions and quite frankly are incompatible. A person could not credibly celebrate the feast day of St. Thomas More and venerate Thomas Cranmer. Likewise, how can Catholicism ever be reconciled to a tradition that has an authoritative document that says: "Transubstantiation…is repugnant to the plain
words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath
given occasion to many superstitions?"

4. Anglicanism is Western- All of the current non-Roman, yet Catholic Churches are Eastern. Anglicanism is Western and England has always been a part of the Western Church (although this is not the whole story, see the end of the essay). In creating a uniquely Anglican Rite there would have to be solid evidence such a rite is worth creating. I don’t think beauty and dignity of liturgy are enough. After all, the liturgy of the whole Western Rite should be made more dignified and beautiful (I think Benedict is on this one!).

Of course, even with these big issues (and there are more), there are solutions. As mentioned above, Rome could allow the first generation of bishops to be married and then only allow married priests in the future. In terms of ordination, I see no other option than a Catholic ordination or the slight possibly of conditional ordination. Historically speaking, the Anglicans could repudiate the anti-Catholic elements of their tradition, while retaining liturgy, music, and custom so long as it doesn’t go against Catholic doctrine. The Eastern Catholic example shows there can be some wiggle room. Finally, the English Church has always been Western, but Celtic Christianity always had some unique elements. Perhaps this would be the basis for a uniquely Anglican expression within the Western Rite. Of course, the connection of Anglicanism to the historic Celtic Church is quite tenuous. But who knows?

Will there be an Anglican Rite within Catholicism? Do most traditional Anglicans even want to be Catholic? After all, an Anglican can simply convert (like I did). Only time will tell if this idea gets any traction, but I think it’s quite an opportunity that at least needs to be explored.