VOA标准英语2009年-Roman Catholic Church Eases Way for Anglic

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
20 October 2009

 
The Vatican coat of arms  
Pope Benedict XVI has approved a document that will make it easier for Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church. The move comes after years of discontent in the Anglican community about the liberal attitudes of some parts of the church toward women priests and homosexual bishops¹.
 
With a new apostolic constitution, the highest form of pontifical² decree, set to be published in the next few weeks, Pope Benedict has created a new church structure for Anglicans who want to join the Roman Catholic Church.
 
Vatican observers say the provision is a response to the disillusionment of some Anglicans over the ordination³ of women, the election of openly gay bishops and the blessing⁴ of same-sex unions.
 
U.S. Cardinal⁵ William Levada presented the new legal entity⁶ at the Vatican. He is head of the Vatican's office for the doctrine⁷ of the faith. Cardinal Levada said the new structure is a response to the many requests that have reached the Vatican over the years.
 
He added that Anglicans will be able to maintain their Anglican identity and many of their liturgical⁸ traditions.
 
"It is the hope of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI that the Anglican clergy⁹ and faithful who desire union with the Catholic Church will find in this canonical¹⁰ structure the opportunity to preserve those Anglican traditions precious to them and consistent with the Catholic faith," he said.
 
Cardinal Levada added the new canonical provision will allow married Anglican priests to become ordained¹¹ Catholic priests. But, married Anglicans will not be able to become Catholic bishops.
 
Although no figures were made available by the Vatican on the number of requests that have reached the Vatican, hundreds of thousands of Anglicans are expected to join the Catholic Church, following the announcement of the new provision. 

It will be the first time since the Reformation in the 16th century that communities of Anglicans reunite with the church in Rome.
 
It is unclear how the Vatican announcement would be received by the Anglican Communion (churches worldwide) or how it would affect ecumenical talks.

1 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

2 pontifical   

adj.自以为是的，武断的

参考例句：

• His words criticizing modern society just right indicate his pontifical character.他用以批评现代社会的言论恰好反映了他自大武断的性格。
• The lawyer,with pontifical gravity,sat on a high chair.那律师摆出一副威严庄重的样子，坐在一把高脚椅上。

3 ordination   

n.授任圣职

参考例句：

• His ordination gives him the right to conduct a marriage or a funeral.他的晋升圣职使他有权主持婚礼或葬礼。
• The vatican said the ordination places the city's catholics in a "very delicate and difficult decision."教廷说，这个任命使得这个城市的天主教徒不得不做出“非常棘手和困难的决定”。

4 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

5 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

6 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

7 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

8 liturgical   

adj.礼拜仪式的

参考例句：

• This period corresponds with the liturgical season of Christmas.这个时期与圣诞节的礼拜季节相一致。
• This is a book of liturgical forms.这是一本关于礼拜仪式的书。

9 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

10 canonical   

n.权威的；典型的

参考例句：

• These canonical forms have to existence except in our imagination.这些正规式并不存在，只是我们的想象。
• This is a combinatorial problem in canonical form.这是组合论中的典型问题。

11 ordained   

v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定

参考例句：

• He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句