Personal ordinariate

Personal ordinariate is a canonical structure of the Roman Catholic Church which comprises a prelate, clergy and possibly laity which will be defined in an Apostolic Consitution by Pope Benedict XVI. Personal prelatures, similar to dioceses and military ordinariates, are under the governance of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops. Personal ordinariates are being defined in response to requests by Anglican congregations to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, but could, presumably, be extended to similar groups desiring communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike dioceses which cover territories, personal ordinariates —like military ordinariates— take charge of persons as regards their situation, regardless of where they live.

Conversion vs. Personal Ordinariate

Although Anglicans could always be received into the Catholic faith as individuals, no mass method of entry existed, as in the reception of former Orthodox congregations into the Catholic Church. The personal ordinariate, although not the same as a rite, would still afford former Anglicans the ability to continue worshiping and learning in accord with the bulk of the Anglican tradition. This is possible, because, although the Anglican tradition varies in some ways from the Roman Catholic tradition, it still features many beliefs (e.g. apostolic succession and transubstantiation) and rituals (i.e. Mass) that are in accord with Catholic teaching.

Rite vs. Personal Ordinariate

Although Eastern Christian churches have remained in or returned to communion with the Roman Catholic Church under the designation of a rite or usage, rites, and even usages of a rite in some instance, imply a territorial basis for governance oof that rite or usage. For example, the United States is covered under several eparchies or diocese corresponding to different rites of the Roman Catholic Church. These eparchies and diocese correspond to different chains of hierarchy, however, they ultimately end in the Pope. For example, the City of Detroit, Michigan is the territory of the Archdioces of Detroit (Latin Rite); the Eparchy of St. Nicholas (based in Chicago, Illinois; Byzantine Rite-Ukrainian Usage); the Eparchy of Parma (based in Parma, Ohio; Byzantine Rite-Ruthenian Usage.

A personal ordinariate would, however, exist, similar to military ordinariates, exist above territorial jurisdictions. In this case, the prelature of the personal ordinariate would be charged with the pastoral care of persons, rather than a territory.

References

<references\>