British Anglican Bishop Andrew Burnham is ready to lead his followers into the Catholic Church, UK reports indicate, but he is also seeking a "magnanimous gesture" from Rome.
"What we must humbly ask for now is for magnanimous gestures from our Catholic friends, especially from the Holy Father," Bishop Burnham said in a statement quoted by Catholic Online.
Bishop Burnham, one of two "flying bishops" in the province of Canterbury, has made a statement asking Pope Benedict XVI and the English Catholic bishops for "magnanimous gestures" that will allow traditionalists to become Catholics en masse, the UK Telegraph says.
He is confident that this will happen, following talks in Rome with Cardinal Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Cardinal Kasper, the Vatican's head of ecumenism.
He was accompanied on his visit by the Rt Rev Keith Newton, Bishop of Richborough, the other Canterbury "flying bishop", who is expected to follow his example.
Bishop Burnham hopes Rome will offer special arrangements whereby former Anglicans can stay worshipping in parishes under the guidance of a Catholic bishop. Most of these parishes already use the Roman liturgy, but there may be provision for Anglican prayers if churches request it.
Anglican priests who are already married will not be barred from ordination as priests, though Bishop Burnham would not be able to continue in episcopal orders, as he is married and there is an absolute bar on married bishops in the Roman and Orthodox Churches.
In his statement, Bishop Burnham explains why he is rejecting the code of practice offered to traditionalists by the General Synod this week. "How could we trust a code of practice to deliver a workable ecclesiology if every suggestion we have made for our inclusion has been turned down flat?" he asks.
"How could we trust a code of practice when those who are offering it include those who have done most to undermine and seek to revoke the code of practice in force for these last 14 years?
"What we must humbly ask for now is for magnanimous gestures from our Catholic friends, especially from the Holy Father, who well understands our longing for unity, and from the hierarchy of England and Wales. Most of all we ask for ways that allow us to bring our folk with us."
The Telegraph says the Catholic Herald will this week reveal Bishop Burnham's decision.
SOURCE
Anglican Bishop Will Lead others on the Path to Rome (Catholic Online, 9/7/08)
LINKS
Church of England General Synod
Bishop Andrew Burnham (Facebook)