Swim the Tiber if You Must, but Leave the Keys Behind

By now you have heard all about the English Ordinariate, through which Anglicans unhappy about women's cooties contaminating the episcopate can join Rome. We briefly discussed this development over a year ago.

Regarding the latest news connected with this matter, Thinking Anglicans points us to an interesting speech offered by the Bishop of London. Here's the bit I find quite curious:

...There does however seem to be a degree of confusion about whether those entering the Ordinariate like Bishop John might be able to negotiate a transfer of properties or at the least explore the possibility of sharing agreements in respect of particular churches. For the avoidance of confusion I have to say that as far as the Diocese of London is concerned there is no possibility of transferring properties. As to sharing agreements I have noted the Archbishop of Westminster’s comment that his “preference is for the simplest solutions. The simplest solutions are for those who come into Catholic communion to use Catholic churches." I am also mindful that the late Cardinal Hume, whom I greatly revered, brought to an end the experiment of church sharing after the Synod’s decision of 1992 because far from being conducive to warmer ecumenical relations it tended to produce more rancour...
(emphasis added)

Does all this sound familiar? It should. The Episcopal Church has been dealing with such strange situations for some time now.

It will be interesting to see how Anglicans in other places deal with disgruntled former members who attempt to run off with the silver.

J.