Some Ottawa Anglicans who've broken away from their church are rebuffing Pope Benedict XVI's recent invitation to join the Roman Catholic Church.
On Tuesday, the Vatican announced it would allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while keeping their identity and liturgical traditions.
Seven parishes in Ottawa have parted ways with the Anglican Church of Canada after parishioners became disillusioned with its increasingly progressive stance, including its ordination of women, election of openly gay bishops and blessing of same-sex unions.
Paul Donison, a priest at St. George's Anglican Church, said the Vatican's offer was one he'd hoped to hear for a long time.
"I used to think, 'Oh well, I guess we're just going to have to go home to Rome.' "
32 like-minded parishes
Instead, Donison's church has joined the Anglican Network in Canada — a group of 32 like-mind parishes that have left the Anglican Church.
According to the Anglican Network's website, the group "embrace[s] Anglican orthodoxy — the biblically faithful, authentically Anglican way of following Jesus … defined by and centred on the … foundational principles of the Anglican tradition in Canada."
Donison said his parish has no plans to leave the Anglican Network and join to the Catholic Church.
"We realized that there were other opportunities, … more home-grown Anglican opportunities."
Kevin Flynn, director of Anglican studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, said he doesn't think Rome's offer will change much between Anglicans and the Catholic Church. Anglicans broke away from the Catholic Church in 1534, after England's King Henry VIII was denied a marriage annulment.
Flynn also thinks the Pope's attempts to woo disaffected Anglicans might alienate some Catholics who want to see their church adopt more liberal views.
"For those Roman Catholics, … I'd say, 'Well, come and be an Anglican.' "
