The big question is what about the Queen? She’s under no obligation, constitutional or otherwise to maintain communion with the CoE. If the body of conservative Anglicans swim the Tiber, why not the Queen as well? England was built under Catholic Kings and Queens, even now, the majority have been Catholic.
As a convert from the Anglican church, this pleases me to no end, and I hope all those who have suffered dearly under the ‘leadership’ of Dr. Atkinson, can find a home with Papa Benedict.
She would have to abdicate, because under laws passed in the wake of the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688, the monarch is not allowed to be a Catholic....
This bold move to incorporate anglicanism is B16's way of sending a signal to the Orthodox communion. The big prize is the orthodox church. If a way can be found to get all branches of Christianity on the same page - B16 will go down as the greatest pope in history.
John Paul II's command to B16 (while he was in charge of the college of the doctrine of the faith) to clean up the Catholic Catechism took over 10 years to finish. It was published in English in the 1990's and is easy to read, easy to understand. B16 is a master of taking on hard jobs and finishing them.
By the time it was done, B16 knew more about the structure of the catholic faith than anyone else. This assignment by JPII was hard but necessary and providential. B16 has the academic and ecclesiastical credentials to make sweeping upgrades to the Roman communion. We are blessed that this is happening in our lifetimes.
As for the queen - she will have to jump out from under the bus.
1) She is head of the Church of England by law and is required to be a member.
2) Under the Act of Settlement (1700) that governs the succession to the throne she and her heirs are barred from entering into communion with the Roman Catholic Church, on penalty of losing their succession rights.
3) Under the Statute of Westminster (1931) the British Parliament cannot alter the succession to the throne without the permission of the other dominions. Therefore amending the Act of Settlement would require the agreement of all the other Commonwealth Dominions that recognize her as head of state.
Until the law is amended she is by law forced to be a member of the Church along with women priests and gay bishops. As are her children and grandchildren if they wish to assume the throne at some time in the future.