Former Anglican Priest Turned Catholic Priest Will Discuss Recent Invitation To Anglicans From Pope on CatholicTV Talk Show

On Friday, October 30th, Fr. Richard Bradford, a former Anglican priest, now Catholic priest will appear on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Fr. Bradford will discuss Pope Benedict’s recent announcement that an apostolic constitution is forthcoming; the constitution will detail a new hierarchical structure for the reception of Anglicans within the Catholic Church. Cardinal William Levada, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, did not announce the title of the document. The announcement was made prior to the release of the constitution to eliminate confusion and to share the information that the process will ease the way for Anglican Bishops, priests and communities to enter the Catholic Church without losing their distinctive Anglican identity.

Some members of the Anglican Church have expressed enthusiasm for the new provisions announced by Pope Benedict XVI which will allow for the transition of Anglicans into the Catholic Church. Archbishop John Hepworth of the Traditional Anglican Communion said that he was “profoundly moved” by Pope Benedict’s generosity. Ecumenical discussion between Catholics and Anglicans has been underway for many years; the dialogue will continue.

Fr. Richard Bradford, who will appear on CatholicTV, is Chaplain to the Congregation of St. Athanasius, which is a Roman Catholic Community in the Greater Boston Area that preserves certain elements of the Anglican tradition and liturgy in their Masses. Fr. Bradford is married and was once an Anglican priest and is now a Catholic priest. The Congregation of St. Athanasius has its origins from a group of 29 Anglicans in Boston who entered the Catholic Church in 1997 under the Pastoral Provision established by Pope John Paul II in 1980.

Fr. Bradford’s interview can be seen on Friday, October 30th live at 10:30AM (EST) on CatholicTV where available (rebroadcast at 8PM). The show will also be streamed simultaneously at www.CatholicTV.com and will be available on the site’s archives starting Friday night. All videos at the website are viewable in full-screen. Paste this URL into your browser in order to access the “This is the Day” video archives. http://www.CatholicTV.org/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72