Here they come, crossing the Tiber (and pray they don’t swim)

It was announced today, both in Rome and in London, that the Catholic Church is producing an Apostolic Constitution which will enable members of the Anglican Communion (of every stripe and leaning) to become part of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church under an Anglican use, going so far as to permit former Anglican clergy to be ordained as Catholic priests.

I’m busy at work, so I’ll let the good folks @ Creative Minority Report do the following on this one.

Also – I’ll take the advice of a priest friend and lean on the side of joy and prayerful anticipation for my Anglican/Episcopalian/Anglo-Catholic brothers and sisters, rather than that of easy triumphalism and derision for +Rowan (that is, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, pictured left) and his ministry.  Given his role in all this, he deserves help and prayers.

Let the armchair speculation commence, but don’t forget those making their way to Rome.

Update: Lots of reflections and speculation from The Anchoress’ page at First Things.