Anglican bishop in England announces intent to join Catholic Church

Anglican bishop in England announces intent to join Catholic Church


Anglican Bishop John Broadhurst of Fulham

London, England,

An Anglican bishop in England has announced his intent to join the Catholic Church under the provisions set up by Pope Benedict XVI. His decision came following the Church of England's recent approval of women as bishops.
Bishop John Broadhurst of Fulham – leader of the country’s traditionalist group Forward in Faith – announced his decision at the group's national assembly on Oct. 16. On Saturday, St. Peter's Church in Folkestone, Kent, which has approximately 40 members and is affiliated with Forward in Faith, announced its decision to follow suit.
The BBC reported that both have decided to convert due to objections over the Church of England’s recent approval of women bishops.
In a historic move in November 2009, the Pope issued “Anglicanorum Coetibus” which provides for the establishment of personal ordinariates for Anglican groups who seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.
An ordinariate is a special type of jurisdiction under church law and is a canonical structure similar to a diocese that covers the area of a bishops’ conference. The Anglican ordinariate allows Anglicans to be part of the Catholic Church while maintaining aspects of their heritage and liturgy.
Bishop Broadhurst told the Forward in Faith meeting on Friday that "I intend to resign as bishop of Fulham before the end of the year. I am not retiring, I am resigning. Secondly, I expect that I will enter the ordinariate when it is established."
The parish church council of St. Peter's stated their intent to join the ordinariate and "is anxious that this should be made as easy as possible," according the BBC.