The Throne of St. Peter: English Biships in Defection Talks with Papacy

In the beginning of May, two to three Bishops from the Church of England flew to Vatican City to open talks of conversion. According to the AP, two of bishops said they were speaking about the Holy Father's invitation to disgruntled Anglicans to join Catholicism, and his clearing the path to do so easier. Such a decision is part of a larger effort by the Holy See to bring back denominations that previously left the faith.

For decades the two groups have held talks. This turn is brightened by the fact that the Anglican Church as admitted gay and female priests, which has almost led to a split in that denomination. The Anglicans making the trip were Rev. Andrew Burnham, the bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rev. John Broadhurst, the bishop of Fulham, and Rev. Keith Newton, the bishop of Richborough. They met members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the bulwark of the Vatican's departments, which enforces doctrine.

Newton said the trip consisted of ''nothing more than exploratory talks." Neither church will make public comments, likely an effort not to inflame the anger of those who would not want a reunification.

If those breaking from the Anglicans were to join the Catholic faith, there would be little change for them, aside from recognizing the Pope as God's representative on Earth. In fact, the Vatican has compromised by allowing a married priest in defecting Aglican bodies to remain married (Bishops could not). What is known as the Anglican Church has been in communion with Rome longer (from 597 to 1535) than it has not, making the absence of 450 years a bit shorter than expected.