New regulations on clerical celibacy enacted

4 April 2013 (ACNS) - The Patriarchal See announced today that new regulations regarding clerical celibacy in the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church have been enacted. The document, entitled Sacerdotes Matrimonio Coniuncti, states that priests and bishops, once ordained, will no longer be allowed to marry. If they are validly married prior to ordination to the priesthood, then they may not marry again if they survive their spouse. Deacons and Minor Clerics continue to be able to marry with permission of their Bishops, provided the conditions, which have been increased, are met.

The document also renewed and expanded the requirement that the wives of married men seeking ordination must give their consent, and both the postulant and spouse must sign the specified oaths and further take the oaths while kneeling before the ordaining Bishop. Deacons and Minor Clerics who are given permission to marry must do likewise with their intended spouse. This is in recognition of the fact that it is essential for spouses to support the ministry of their husband, as the service of a cleric to the Church is his most sacred, important, and chief duty and responsibility. This is both for the good of the Church and the good of the marriage.

It was noted that this practice is similar (albeit with some differences) to that of many Eastern Rite and Orthodox Churches, as well as the new Anglican Ordinariate. Also, married men in the Roman Communion who seek ordination as permanent Deacons must have spousal permission and agree not to re-marry. While married clergy was once common in the Roman Rite, it was suppressed at the Second Lateran Council in 1145.

Easter 2013 Patriarchal Address

Venerable Brethren and Well-Beloved Sons, greetings and Apostolic Blessings on this Sunday of the Resurrection, in the year of our Lord 2013. What a glorious day Easter Sunday is each year. It is this day that we not simply commemorate but truly live and experience the triumph of Christ over the grave. Without the resurrection, there would be no hope of salvation for mankind. This past Friday, though, we experienced the Holy Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the entire Passion of our Lord in a special way in some of the most beautiful and poignant liturgy in the Church. There can be no Easter without Good Friday. This has been said through the years many, many times; yet it seems always necessary to remind the people. It is necessary to remind the fallen world, the secularized world that does not know Christ or has turned a deaf ear and a blind eye. It is also necessary to remind the Christian clergy and faithful, for complacency is an all-to-easy destroyer of one’s faith. For this reason, it is indeed necessary not only to remind others, but to remind ourselves. As we have experienced the pain and suffering of our Lord in His Passion and the joys of His glorious Resurrection, let this cause us to resolve to examine ourselves and our faith daily throughout the year.

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis was enthroned in Rome. We join the world in celebrating this great joy and blessing. Of particular note is the emphasis of his pontificate on the poor, the forgotten, the oppressed, and the marginalized people of the world. This is of great importance to our Patriarchate, due to our special mandate of mission, service, and charity.

After celebrating the institution of the Holy Eucharist last Thursday, it is a good time to reaffirm that Christ’s Holy priesthood is a sacred obligation not to be taken lightly. It is not a mere job or hobby, but a state in life. Priests are married to the Church. All clerics have obligations that they must place above all else. All clerics owe obedience to Christ’s Church and to the hierarchy. It is only when the clergy places their clerical obligations above all else and humbly submit to the Church above their own desires that they may begin to serve the Lord in Christ-like humility. Our Lord’s entire ministry was built on His humble submission to the will of His Father.

For far too long, we have spoken in these addresses of the problems in the world surrounding the right to life, the sanctity of life, and the dignity of the human person. The world still faces the scourge of abortion, with over a million murders of unborn children taking place in the United States alone. How many unborn children are dying daily as the nation talks about equal rights issues? Who is standing up in the public arena for these innocent children who cannot speak for themselves? Are those who demand equal rights likewise demanding equal rights for unborn children? Until the world learns to respect life and the dignity of human persons, all other discussion of rights are meaningless. Every other right in the world necessarily has as its precondition the right to life, as the previous Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI so wisely pointed out.

As we enter into our commemoration of the time the Resurrected Lord spent on earth before the glorious Ascension, let us dedicate ourselves to both prayer and action in the fulfillment of our mandate of mission, service, and charity. Let this charity flow from the altar of our Lord. Let it then begin inside each of us and spread to the world.

Benedicat vos, omnipotens Deus. Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. R. Amen.

Holy Week Begins

As Pope Francis began his first Holy Week as the Holy Father, congregations around the world likewise celebrated Palm Sunday. During this holiest time of the entire year, the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church wishes all in the world a joyous week culminating in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Statement by the Patriarch of St. Stephen on the Election of Pope Francis

ROME 18 March 2013 (ACNS) - Text of the statement by the Patriarch of St. Stephen on the Election of Pope Francis. 

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Pope Francis has captivated the world with his humble and endearing ways. Not yet a week ago a great joy was announced to the world that Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio was elected as successor to Saint Peter, becoming the first Pope in history to take the name of Francis. He chose his Papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis certainly has demonstrated in his own ministry as much caring for the poor as his holy namesake. 

As the earthly ministry of our own glorious Patron Saint Stephen was largely devoted to the care of the Roman poor, this is a point very dear to us. Indeed the Church stands as a representative of the poor, the infirmed, the oppressed, and the marginalized people of the world. As St. Stephen's brother Roman deacon St. Lawrence stated to his captors, the poor are the true treasure of the Church. 

Both Stephen and Lawrence were martyred for their faith. Pope Francis said, even before becoming Pope, that we must defend the unborn even if we are taken to court or killed. Here stands before us on the throne of Saint Peter a man who understands the duty to live the Christian faith no matter the cost. 

Now let us return to the Holy Father's namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi. He was a nobleman who gave up his wealth to take up his own cross and follow the Lord. He, like our own modern Francis, lived a life of austerity. St. Francis gave up worldly treasure and laid up instead a treasure for himself in heaven. St. Francis abandoned worldly ambition and instead focused all his efforts towards the Church. Thus he was a great supporter and guardian of the Sacred Traditions of the Church. To St. Francis, nothing was too good to be given to our Lord. He ensured a strict and great reverence for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and gave unwavering and ungrudging obedience to the hierarchy of the Church. What a wonderful blessing it is to see these same traits in the Holy Father, Pope Francis. 

What can we as Christians learn from the Holy Father even in this first week of his Pontificate? First, His Holiness stood greeting the people surrounded by the beauty of the Vatican as a man who has given up everything for Christ. There is an example for us all! Our own merit is nothing! Let us all give up our worldly ambition, which is a process that must be one of continual renewal. Let all glory be for Christ and let all beauty be only that which reflects the power, majesty, and radiant splendor of almighty God! 

Next, let us learn and remember that humility is not a shunning of tradition, but an embracing of it. As we embrace the two thousand year traditions of Christ's Holy Church, we necessarily diminish ourselves and submit in humility to Christ. That is true humility. 

Above all, let us learn from the Holy Father's example of service to the poor. I saw before me a man who, like Christ and Saint Francis, suffers for the poor; a man who, like St. Stephen, St. Lawrence, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would lay down his own life for others. There is the ultimate love!

I have long said that the world needs more love, and that true love in Christ is the only true solution to the problems facing the world today. Here with Francis we have a Pope who not only promotes that love, he lives it. 

Habemus Papam! Cardinal Bergoglio elected Supreme Pontiff

ROME 13 March 2013 (ACNS) - In the fifth vote, Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio from Argentina was elected as Supreme Pontiff to succeed Pope Benedixct XVI. He chose to be known as Francis.

Conclave Begins to Elect a New Pope

ROME 12 March 2013 (ACNS) - The conclave to select a successor to Benedict XVI begins today in Rome as the 115 Cardinal Electors gather for a solemn mass, followed by the rituals of the conclave in the Sistine Chapel. While much speculation abounds, no clear favorite for Pope has emerged. As the old Italian saying goes, though, "He who enters the conclave as Pope leaves as a Cardinal."

Patriarch of St. Stephen's statement on the resignation of Benedict XVI

11 February 2013 (ACNS) - The Patriarch of Saint Stephen made the following statement in response to the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI that he intends to resign at the end of the month.

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It was with extreme sadness that I learned of the Holy Father's pending resignation to take place at  the end of the month. Benedict XVI was (and still is) both a forward-looking leader and one who is well-grounded in faith and tradition. This is not a unique combination of traits, but it is not common. What has made Benedict such a good Pope is his true humility. This is not a false humility or humility as so many people wrongly understand it. It is not failing to exercise the Petrine office to the fullest. He was (and still is) the Pope, and he took his office seriously. Rather, the humility that Benedict possesses is that true humility which is a complete surrender to the will of God. This is what has made Benedict such a special and effective Pope in this crucial time in history when secularism has threatened the faith from without and modernism has threatened the faith from within. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Holy Church, and I believe it is in fulfillment of that promise of our Lord that people like Benedict come to the Petrine office.

We wish the Holy Father a blessed and spiritually rewarding retirement and thank him for the kindness which he has shown us. It will never be forgotten. Now let us all follow the Holy Father's example of trusting in the Lord and doing His will. Let us never be afraid for the future of the Church, and let us be always thankful for this period in which the Church has been blessed with the pontificate of Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict XVI.