October 20, 2009: Today Pope Benedict Tuesday approved a document known as an "Apostolic Constitution" to accept Anglicans who want to join the Catholic church – either individually or in groups – while maintaining some of their own traditions. The pope's decision is viewed as a major step in making it easier for dissatisfied Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism. Today's announcement comes after years of discontent among the worldwide Anglican community, numbering some 77 million people, over the liberal movement in their own church including the ordination of women priests and homosexual bishops.

Benedict's offer is perhaps the clearest and boldest move by the Vatican to welcome disaffected Anglicans back into the Catholic fold since English King Henry VIII broke with Rome and set himself up at the head of the new Church of England in 1534. The Catholic proposal would permit the appointment of new church leaders, most likely bishops who will come from the ranks of unmarried former Anglican priests, to oversee congregations of former Anglicans who become Catholics and recognize the pope as their leader. "In this way, the Apostolic Constitution seeks to balance on the one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical and spiritual patrimony and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be integrated into the Catholic Church," the Vatican said.

The new regulations will not affect the Catholic church position on not allowing its own priests to marry. However, the long established practice will continue of allowing a married Anglican priest who converts to Catholicism to remain married. Anglicans will likely find it easier than ever before to become Catholics because they will be able to use a standard benchmark of rules and requirements for conversion.

Vatican officials said the decision was taken in response "to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion." The most prominent recent Anglican convert to Catholicism was former British prime minister Tony Blair, who joined the Catholic church after leaving public office in 2007.

Both Vatican and Anglican leaders emphasized that the two churches would continue their ongoing contacts aimed at eventual reunion. "This is not a comment on the life of the Anglican Communion. This is a response to people who came forward," said Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Benedict's surprising offer reflects the analysis of some observers concerning the meaning of the ecumenical "movement" as far as the Catholic church is concerned – the only possibly movement toward unity in the faith is for non-Catholics to return to the fold.