In what must be regarded as a remarkable event by those of us who study the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, a fair number of those who remain in the Anglican Church have asked to rejoin Catholicism.
Groups of Anglicans will be able to join the Roman Catholic Church but maintain a distinct religious identity under changes announced by the Pope.There weren't many left to start with. The Episcopal Church is about 1/30th the size of the Catholic Church among Americans, for example; and that though the Church of England had a substantial advangate in early American culture. (Indeed, Catholics were outright banned from Georgia during the colonial period, along with slaves and lawyers.)
The Vatican said the new rules follow requests from Anglicans wanting to join but retain their liturgical heritage.
It comes amid splits among Anglicans worldwide over homosexuality and the ordination of women.
But Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said he did not think it was a "commentary on Anglican problems"....
The measure, known as an Apostolic Constitution, was shown to leaders of the Church of England just two weeks ago.
Under its terms announced by the Vatican, groupings of Anglicans would be able to join "personal ordinariates".
This would allow them to enter full communion with the Catholic church, but also preserve elements of the Anglican traditions including the possible use of Anglican prayer books.
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