Catholic Church Welcomes Disgruntled Anglicans

Pope Benedict XVI has created a new church structure for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church, responding to the disillusionment of some Anglicans over the ordination of women and the election of openly gay bishops. The new provision will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while maintaining their Anglican identity and many of their liturgical traditions.

The Vatican's chief doctrinal official says the church has received many requests from Anglicans upset by their church's gay-friendly turn. "At the same time, they have told us the importance of their Anglican traditions." Under the new structure, called Personal Ordinariates, units of faithful will form within local Catholic Churches, headed by former Anglican prelates. An Anglican and Catholic archbishop issued a joint statement saying the new structure was the result of the "ongoing official dialogue" between the churches. (More Anglican Church stories.)