Few of area’s Episcopalians leaping to join Vatican flock

The Vatican’s announcement last week that it would ease the way for disaffected Anglicans to join the Catholic Church prompted strong negative reactions from some progressive Episcopal priests and parishioners, who saw Pope Benedict XVI as capitalizing on divisions in the Anglican Communion over the ordination of female priests and an openly gay bishop. The Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican church.

During his sermon at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salem yesterday, the Rev. Paul B. Bresnahan said the Catholic Church was essentially offering itself as a “safe refuge for bigotry,’’ and he “must respectfully decline’’ the pope’s invitation.

“This really sends a terrible message to the gay community, as well as to women, which is half the population of the world,’’ he said in a phone interview. “It’s about time we embraced these folks in a kinder, gentler way than we are now.’’

Episcopal priests are allowed to marry, unlike most Catholic priests (some Eastern rite Catholic priests, and Catholic priests who were formerly Episcopal priests, are married). And the Vatican’s proposal raises other theological issues, including the nature of papal authority and the meaning of the Eucharist, as well as practical issues, such as who would own the real estate of Episcopal congregations that joined the Catholic church.

During a news conference last week, Vatican officials said Anglicans would be able “to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony,’’ but did not release details.

The Rev. Michael J. McKinnon of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Marlborough said, however, that until the pope releases an explanation of how these differences would be resolved, it is speculation as to the outcome of his offer.

McKinnon’s conservative congregation two years ago followed a national trend by leaving the Episcopal Church USA to affiliate with theologically like-minded Anglican provinces in Africa, over what leaders said was concern about the liberal theological direction of the Episcopal Church, including the approval of an openly gay priest, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.

But if conversion to Catholicism would require Anglicans to take on beliefs that were the original cause of their break from the Catholic Church in the 16th century, he said, probably few would accept the pope’s invitation.

“We’re grateful he is making such an offer but this is not something we can avail ourselves of,’’ McKinnon said, adding that the pope will probably sway only those who were leaning toward Roman Catholicism already.

“For those who are Roman Catholic leaning, I think that this will be a real option for them and will provide them a safe haven,’’ he said, “and I’m grateful to the Roman Catholic Church for reaching out to those who feel that this is the best direction.’’

The pope’s offer illuminates divisions that exist in both churches at a time when each is struggling with falling membership.

After Mass Saturday afternoon at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton, some Catholic parishioners said they support the Vatican’s effort to make conversion easier for Anglicans.

“I think it’s great,’’ said Needham resident Clare Smith, explaining that she supports newcomers into the fold. But Smith said she has “mixed feelings’’ about the offer targeting Anglicans who are upset over the inclusion of women priests and an openly gay bishop into their church.

“I think there are so many dynamite women,’’ said Smith. “I wish the [Catholic] church would evaluate the role of women in years to come for the priesthood.’’

At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston yesterday, several people leaving a morning Mass said they saw the invitation to Anglicans as a positive move.

“It’s one more step to a united faith,’’ said Chun Yang of Boston.

Outside Trinity Church in Copley Square, Lindsey Weeramuni of Jamaica Plain questioned the Vatican’s overture, saying that one of the reasons she attends that Episcopalian church is because it is so inclusive.

“If all of God’s children are just that, why are some more deserving of God’s love than others, in the eyes of one particular church?’’ Weeramuni asked.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston referred questions to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which issued a statement about the pope’s offer, saying it “stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of (the new provisions) in our country.’’

The Episcopal Church also put out an official response, saying “we are in dialogue with the Archbishop’s office and will, in the coming days, continue to explore the full implications of this in our ecumenical relations.’’

At St. Peter’s, parishioners said they have experienced conversions only in the other direction, with many progressive and disaffected Roman Catholics joining their community.

“We do have a lot of Catholics here that came not just because of the gay issue and woman issue, but because of the divorce issue,’’ said Robert McHugh, 53, of Salem, a former Catholic. “I don’t want to create war with them. Everyone is entitled to their own views. But I would say, tend to your own flock.’’

Carolyn Y. Johnson and Lisa Kocian of the Globe staff contributed to this story.