Catholics in England and Wales say 900 leave Church of England to join ordinariate

By Robert Barr
posted March 15, 2011

LONDON — About 900 members of the Church of England have taken the first step toward becoming Catholics, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales said Tuesday.

The converts participated in a Rite of Election, the first step toward confirmation, over the weekend, the church said.

They will be joining the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, established by Pope Benedict XVI to receive Anglicans who increasingly have felt isolated since the Church of England decided in 1992 to ordain women as priests.

Tensions have grown as the governing General Synod moves to allow women to become bishops while denying any specific protection for traditionalists. Converts joining the ordinariate will be allowed to keep some Anglican liturgy and traditions. the rest