On the surface, it looks like a polite tug of war between two of the world’s great churches, each saying nice things about the other.
But the ramifications of the conflict between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England are broad and not yet completely clear, with details of the Vatican’s offer to help Anglicans convert still unpublished.
It is not yet known what part of the Anglicans’ liturgy and rites will be incorporated into Catholic worship under the surprise offer made earlier this week in a bold bid by Pope Benedict XVI to capitalize on sharp divisions within the Anglican community over the proper role of women clergy and the acceptability of openly gay priests.
Nor is it evident how many Anglicans will seek to switch churches because of the pope’s new policy. The Right Rev. John Broadhurst, the Bishop of Fulham, believes roughly 1,000 Church of England clergy will seek to join the Roman Catholic Church. He is chairman of Forward in Faith, a group of traditionalists opposed to the ordination of women.
He said this was not a direct result of the pope’s new policy but a reflection of widespread unhappiness with liberal Church of England policies.
“There are 1,000 priests who are totally disenchanted with the position on women bishops, and if there is no provision for them, they will inevitably leave the Church of England,” he said. “The Church of England is in a crisis because of its own internal policies and has been for a long time.”
Others predict the exodus will be smaller.
Some changes are certain: it will, for example, be possible for married Anglican clergy to become Roman Catholic clergy under the new rules, a prospect that some believe may open the door, slowly, to the acceptance of married Catholic priests.
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