This week the Pope has announced a scheme whereby Anglicans disaffected by the changes in their church may be received into communion with Rome and retain some aspects of their old identity and liturgical life. This is intended as a pastoral response to a situation in which may of conservative catholic persuasion within Anglicanism feel they are no longer at home in their own place. The details are far from clear, and the announcement has been made in a way that suggests that British Catholics and Anglicans were taken by suprise. Their commitment to ecumenical dialogue witness and action in the face of this news was re-affirmed.
Whilst this news has little bearing upon the participation of faith communities in the life of civil society, it does convey the impression that Christians have difficulties in relationships that could weaken the credibility of their common witness, especially as a key issue facing and dividing churches is the role of women in the ministerial leadership of the church - a matter which many in civil leadership find deeply distrubing in this egalitarian age.
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