An explanation of the Ordinariate in Scotland

In response to requests made by groups of Anglicans from around the world, including from within the Church of England, seeking a way to be in full communion with the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has responded by issuing the highest form of papal legislation – an Apostolic Constitution. This particular Apostolic Constitution, published in November 2009, is entitled Anglicanorum Coetibus – which translates on Groups of Anglicans. In it the Pope has made provision, as part of his ecumenical vision for the Church, to maintain the liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, as a precious gift nourishing the faith of the members of the Ordinariate and as a treasure to be shared.

In his recent visit to the United Kingdom, Pope Benedict spoke of the need to see the Apostolic Constitution as a prophetic gesture, positively contributing to the developing relations between Anglicans and Catholics and helping us to set our sights on the ultimate goal of all ecumenical activity.

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman, was set up by Papal decree on 15th January 2011, with Fr Keith Newton as the Ordinary.

What about Scotland?

Inevitably, with something as new and as exciting as the Ordinariate, it will take time to develop. It is a new and exciting venture, a generous offer to traditionalist Anglicans by Pope Benedict, and something which has never happened before.

While some interest has been shown by individuals and groups in Scotland, the initial indications were that the numbers were insufficient for there to be a separate Scottish Ordinariate. An Ordinariate, by definition, must always correspond to the jurisdiction of a Catholic Bishops' Conference in any geographical area. In the UK there are two – the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.

It soon became obvious that for any Ordinariate group to take root in Scotland that it should, initially at least, be part of the Ordinariate of England and Wales, but with a definite Scottish identity and working through the Ordinary, Fr Keith Newton, and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland through Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisely, whom the Scottish Bishops have delegated to work with the Ordinariate in Scotland. If numbers in Scotland increase sufficiently, there is no reason why a Scottish Ordinariate can not be established in the future.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about the Ordinariate in Scotland please click here - and explore! If you would like to join our Scotland Ordinariate Group or to find out more, please click on Contact us - but please only use this form if you live in Scotland - and we will do our best to keep you informed about what is happening.