POPE LEO XIII. AND ANGLICAN ORDERS.
For years many of the clergy and members of the Church of England, who have repudiated the name Protestant, and designated themselves as Anglican Catholics, have been longing, planning, hoping, for a union with the Church of Rome. Certain Roman Catholic priests, among them Cardinal Vaughan, of England, Father Duchesne, of France, with such noted laymen as Lord Halifax and Mr. W. E. Gladstone, have favored such union. It has been hoped that Pope Leo would declare the ordinations of the English clergy valid; that is, that he would say that there was no break in their ordination from St. Peter down; that their orders of prelates were in direct line of true apostolic succession. The real question is about this: Was the ordination of Parker, the chaplain to Anne Boleyn, who was consecrated Archbishop under the reign of Elizabeth, valid, and in true succession from Peter? Upon this question the pope appointed a commission to make full and authentic inquiry into the facts of the matter, composed of the following, according to the Catholic Mirror of September 26:— The commission was a remarkable one; it comprised Cardinal Rampolla, who presided; Father Di Augustinis, a Jesuit of great learning, favorable to the Anglican orders; Father Duchesne, a leading liturgical authority of France, also favorable; Father Gaspari, a professor of canon law in the University of Paris; Canon Moyes, of England; Father Gasquet, of England; Father Scannell, and Father David. In addition to these, two English clergymen were present in Rome, who took an informal part, Rev. Mr. Puller, one of the Cowley Fathers, and Rev. Mr. Lacey. It is said that “the sympathies of the Holy Father” were warm toward the Anglicans. Notwithstanding this he declared against them. They have not “power over the real Body of Christ.” This press despatch tells the story:— RoME, September 18.—The pope has issued an apostolic letter, in which he says: “After long study I must confirm the decrees of my predecessors, that all ordinations made under the Anglican rite are absolutely invalid.” His Holiness also entreats the Anglican clergy to return to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Mirror thus concludes its editorial:— Rome has spoken, and the question is settled; and it is well that it is so. There can not fail to be good results; many conversions will undoubtedly follow, especially among those who have been waiting. It is determined now that the Anglican Church is not a part of the Catholic Church. On this point there is no longer room for misunderstanding. And to us it seems a logical course, and the decision is what might have been expected. It will doubtless result in many flocking to the Church of Rome, where logically they should have gone long ago. And the Anglicans will not be the last.