Upon our return, pressure was put on me to make a decision and as a result I analysed the available documents thoroughly and came to the conclusion that my initial impression was correct: what was being asked of me was to convert to the Roman Catholic Faith and to subscribe to dogmas which were not part of the doctrine and faith of the ACCA when I joined her, or when I was ordained, and which I could not accept.

I'd love right now to turn to another subject that actually is dear to both of us - the Ordinariate. That's the new structure in the Church for welcoming numbers of Anglicans - faithful bishops, priests - into the Catholic Church. We're not talking a single layperson who wanted to become Catholic - they would go through the normal procedure.

The jurisdiction, a novelty in canon law, was created by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith following requests from the five former Anglican bishops, now married Catholic priests, who make up the leadership of the new Personal Ordinariate.

Before I came to this Parish, the matter of the larger visible unity of Christ's Church was layed before the Anglican Church in America, and the world-wide Traditional Anglican Communion. Indeed, it is our Lord's prayer that the unity of His Church be such as to make the world believe that He is the Messiah. Such unity, after centuries of fractures and divisions, could not come about without humble acts of reconciliation; but these can only be effective if done in obedience to Christ.