"Clearly we were disappointed, but after further conversations during the Conference we understand that our task is to take the initiative towards the Holy See to seek some creative type of expansion of the Pastoral Provision. I remain hopeful of a way forward," said TAC Bishop David Moyer, rector of the Anglo-Catholic parish of Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, PA. who attended a two-day conference on the use of the Pastoral Provision for Anglicans who have crossed the Tiber to Rome.

"As fully orthodox Anglican Catholics, we pray that the Holy See will recognize us for who we are," he told VirtueOnline.

But for Episcopalians and Anglicans who have swum the Tiber it was good news. The Pastoral Provision brought about by Pope John Paul II in 1980 making special pastoral provision for married priests and laity who had formerly belonged to the Episcopal Church, was working well, reported Fr. Stetson.

"The decision provided for the ordination of married, former priests coming from the Episcopal Church, and for the creation of personal worship communities which would be allowed to retain elements of the Anglican liturgy," said the Opus Dei priest.

Stetson said the 1980 decision by Pope John Paul II came as a result of two separate Episcopal groups: The American Church Union, headed by the late Canon Albert Dubois; and the Society of the Holy Cross, a priestly fraternity lead by Fr. James Parker. Stetson said the 1976 decision to ordain women motivated the orthodox Episcopalians. "They sought to retain the Anglican liturgical heritage," he said.

In 1978 the Conference of Catholic Bishops met and while they rejected any kind of "ritual diocese" approved the ordination of married men. "The Conference, at its May meeting in 1978 voted affirmatively and so informed the Holy See," said Stetson. In 1980 John Paul II gave his assent.

Bernard Cardinal Law was directed to develop a proposal containing elements for the pastoral provision for submission to the Holy See and to oversee its implementation.

Stetson noted that because of the present "confusion in the Episcopal Church" the number of inquiries from catholic bishops on behalf of Episcopal clergyman, "had dramatically risen."

The Opus Dei priest said that on the question of the liturgy, the 1980 decision specified that "the group retain certain elements of the Anglican liturgy; these are to be determined by a commission of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship in 1983."

The work of this commission resulted in the approval of the Book of Divine Worship which is now used in parishes and worship communities of former Episcopalians. Seven parishes are presently using it in different areas of the U.S.

Stetson highlighted two different situations. When asked the difference between being an Episcopal priest and a Catholic priest, one former Episcopal priest answered, "about twenty thousand dollars." Secondly Episcopal priests generally have less than 200 in the average parish; in the Catholic Church parishes of over a thousand are common, he said. He noted that with the demands made on married priests "led to serious repercussions on married life. The pastoral care of priests' wives is a new topic of the Catholic diocesan bishop."

The priest said that married former Episcopal priest would not lead to married Catholic priests in the future. "It is clear in everyone's mind that this is not a proving ground for optional celibacy in the catholic Church. In fact, the special challenges of a married clergy show the value of the norm of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom in the Western Church."

"The growing crisis of theological and moral authority both in the Episcopal Church and in other Protestant denominations ins likely to result in a new wave of priests, ministers and lay people seeking the sure home of the Catholic Church. "They will bring to the Catholic Church the sound Christian traditions that have sustained them since the Protestant Reformation: a love for Sacred Scripture; joy in singing to the Lord; eagerness to spread the Word of God; and from the Anglicans a long and rich history of English in the liturgy."

"The Pastoral Provision has served till now as the harbinger of this new springtime for Christianity in the United States," he said.

The 2006 Anglican Use conference drew priests nationally and internationally, with people from every Anglican Use Rite in the country said Eric Bergman, Director of St. Thomas More Society of St. Clare's Church in Scranton.

There are over 100 married Roman Catholic priests in the U.S. drawn from both the Episcopal Church and other denominations, said Fr. Stetson who has been involved for 26 years with the Pastoral Provision.

Stetson said he was enormously impressed with the 2004 Plano conference where he had been invited as an unofficial observer by Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, and noted the tremendous applause then Cardinal Ratzinger's letter was received which praised the orthodox wing of the Episcopal Church for its faithfulness.

Stetson said the future of the Pastoral Provision was not an ecclesiastical, administrative, liturgical or cultural one. "It is of the essence a theological and a spiritual one. It is in our desires to bring together that all may truly be one in that communion of truth...that comes from the sacraments of the church...guiding, leading and pushing it forward and reaching beyond sociology to the truth of Jesus Christ."

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