(Photo: Getty/iStock)
In the decades following the Church of England’s decision to ordain women, a significant shift in allegiance has been observed among its clergy, according to a study by St Mary’s University London. The research highlights a noteworthy migration of Anglican clergy to the Catholic Church, driven by differing theological views.
The pivotal year of 1992 saw the Church of England make the historic move to allow the ordination of women, a decision that contrasts with the Catholic Church’s stance on male-only priesthood. This divergence in doctrine has been a catalyst for change among Anglican clergy.
The study reports that from 1992 to 2024, approximately 700 members of the Anglican and Scottish Episcopal churches converted to Catholicism. Remarkably, about one-third of the Catholic priests ordained during this time were former Anglicans.
One prominent figure among these converts is Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester. Having embraced Catholicism and being ordained in 2021, Nazir-Ali expressed concerns about the Church of England’s direction, stating it was “losing its way.”
Nazir-Ali adheres to traditional views on marriage, gender, and sexuality, areas where the Catholic Church maintains clear doctrinal positions, unlike the divided stance within the Church of England.
Recent developments include the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) rejecting the spiritual authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, following the appointment of a liberal woman, Sarah Mullally, to the role. Instead of turning to Rome, GAFCON has claimed legitimacy as the Anglican Communion.
Professor Stephen Bullivant, a co-author of the study, noted a “surge” in conversions post-ordination of women, acknowledging both personal reasons and the significant impact of the Synod vote on women priests in the 1990s, as reported by The Telegraph.
Another landmark moment was the 2010 visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain, which included the beatification of Cardinal Newman, a 19th-century churchman who converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism. Professor Bullivant remarked, “Cardinal Newman is a real hero among Anglicans and Catholics. However, most of these people [converts] have a long and very personal journey.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
