Does anyone know whether there are any estimated figures anywhere for how many Anglicans convert to being Roman Catholics and vice versa over any period of time?
In the light of the Pope’s trawl for disaffected Anglicans, I’ve been reflecting on the fact that it has always a two way street. I’m aware of quite a few Roman Catholic folk, lay, ordained and former religious who now worship with Anglicans. We tend not to make a big ta-ra about this, unlike his Holiness. Some of those folk think of themselves as still being RC in some way but just worshipping with an Anglican congregation. Some feel the need to make some statement to the effect that they have changed church, for example by being confirmed or by being received into membership. We are the church of slightly fuzzy boundaries sometimes so it doesn’t matter much to most of us whether folk sneak into our communities by assimilation or whether they convert with a big bang. They are all welcome, whether they know for certain that that they belong, or are just trying us out or simply think of themselves as abiding with us for a time.
Generally speaking, I find those who join us from an RC background to have a lively, intelligent faith; they often tend to be the brightest and the best kind of Christians you could find.
I wonder whether Roman Catholics view those former Anglicans who join them in the same way.
Leave a Reply