In a major setback to the Anglican Church in the UK, Rev. John C. Broadhurst, Bishop of Fulham in the diocese of London, has announced that he will convert to Roman Catholicism within a new structure set up by Pope Benedict XVI.
Rev. Broadhurst, a leading traditionalist and head of Forward in Faith, is strongly opposed to the ordination of women as bishops in the Church of England. In July, a five-day general synod in York had approved draft legislation paving the way for the first female bishop to be appointed.
At the time Forward in Faith, the Catholic group in the Anglican Church, had rejected the draft legislation. It had decided to take stock at its national assembly in October.
St. Peter’s Church in Folkestone also announced its decision to join the Ordinariate in Britain. St. Peter’s Church, affiliated with Forward in Faith, “is anxious that this should be made as easy as possible not only for them, but for the diocesan family of Canterbury that they will regretfully be leaving behind.”
Announcing his decision to tender his resignation before the end of the year, Rev. Broadhurst said: “I have decided that I intend to resign as the Bishop of Fulham before the end of the year. I am not retiring, I am resigning.”
Pope Benedict XVI has offered to create new ordinariates in the Catholic Church to serve the pastoral needs of Anglicans who wish to preserve their traditions while entering into full communion with the Roman Church. Rev. Broadhurst said the Bishop of London is likely to appoint someone to fill the post that he is vacating.