Facts Regarding the TAC's Request for "Unity with Rome"

The announcement in October 2007 of a letter from the Traditional Anglican Communion to the Vatican seeking unity has generated a great deal of discussion, much of it long on speculation and short on facts. This uninformed chatter serves only to make it obvious that there are many who see their lack of actual information as no reason to refrain from forming an opinion and sharing it with the world.

One Catholic news source recently announced that the TAC "has asked for the appointment of a Catholic bishop to preside over an Anglican rite that would be restored to full communion with the Holy See." The simple truth is that our letter of petition contained no request for such an appointment.

Another self-proclaimed Catholic website states that the retention of "their married episcopate" was a requirement of the TAC. Once again, no reference to any such requirement was in the letter.

In an attempt to correct such inaccuracies, while also honoring the TAC's pledge not to publish the actual letter until the Holy See has made an official response, the following information, all of which has been published on the TAC's Messenger website, is collected here for the reader's convenience.

"The College of Bishops of the TAC met in Plenary Session in Portsmouth, England, in the first week of October 2007. The Bishops and Vicars-General unanimously agreed to the text of a letter to the See of Rome seeking full, corporate, sacramental union. The letter was signed solemnly by all the College and entrusted to the Primate and two bishops chosen by the College to be presented to the Holy See. The letter was cordially received at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Primate of the TAC has agreed that no member of the College will give interviews until the Holy See has considered the letter and responded."

(NOTE: Most of the letter consisted of a review of the last 45 years of Anglican-Roman relations and a description of the origin and current status of the Traditional Anglican Communion. The items below are quoted from the concluding section.)

"... a worldwide community of Anglican Christians has united under the name 'The Traditional Anglican Communion' for three main purposes:

- To identify, reaffirm and consolidate in its community the elements of belief, sacraments, structure, and conduct that mark the Church of Christ ...

- To seek as a body full and visible communion, particularly eucharistic communion, in Christ, with the Roman Catholic Church..

- To achieve such communion while maintaining those revered traditions ... that constitute the cherished and centuries-old heritage of Anglican communities throughout the world."

"We accept that the most complete and authentic expression and application of the catholic faith in this moment of time is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church ..."

"We accept the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter, which is a ministry of teaching and discerning the faith and a 'perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity' and understand this ministry is essential to the Church founded by Jesus Christ."

"Driven by these realizations, which we must now in good conscience bring to the attention of the Holy See, we seek a communal and ecclesial way of being Anglican Catholics in communion with the Holy See, at once treasuring the full expression of catholic faith and treasuring our tradition within which we have come to this moment. We seek the guidance of the Holy See as to the fulfillment of these our desires and those of the churches in which we have been called to serve."

Obviously, the only thing actually requested was "the guidance of the Holy See" - no list of conditions, no requests for a "Catholic bishop to preside over" us, for special treatment or consideration for current bishops, for Uniate status, or for any other specific structure, etc., etc. - just a simple statement that we want to be in communion with the Holy See without losing our Anglican heritage and identity, ending with the implied question, "How should we proceed?"

The entire matter was undertaken with no agenda other than responding to our Lord's prayer for unity among his followers (John 17), with the belief and understanding that such unity can only be achieved by restoring relationships severed by past schisms.

It is hoped the above may bring some truth and clarity to the discussion.