The misconduct allegations, initially brought by the members of St. James, stem from Bruno's unsuccessful 2015 attempt to sell the church in Newport Beach to a condominium developer for $15 million in cash.

The move represents a highly provocative challenge for Archbishop Welby, who softened his stance on homosexuality in February

Archbishop Welby alarmed conservatives in February by issuing a letter softening his stance on homosexuality. In the letter, written with his counterpart in York, John Sentamu, he called for a 'radical new inclusion' for gays and a '21st Century understanding' of sexuality -- apparently paving the way for the first formal services to celebrate gay couples.

Today, the Catholic Church has three Personal Ordinariates -- informally known as the "Anglican Ordinariates" -- that preserve the Anglican patrimony in their Catholic parishes, communities, and religious orders. These Personal Ordinariates have the only English form of the Roman Missal, promulgated by Pope Francis, called Divine Worship -- an actual English form, not an English translation of the Latin Mass -- written in traditional, poetic "Prayer Book" English.

The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said that he was “shocked and greatly saddened” by the attacks, “particularly as they took place on Palm Sunday,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the families and friends of those who lost their lives. May they know the comfort and strength of the Lord at this painful time.”