Church hopes to keep all members says Archbishop

Responding to Pope Benedict XV1’s announcement of an apostolic constitution to create personal ordinariates for Anglicans who convert to Roman Catholicism, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said:

"This announcement came as a surprise to the Church in Wales and it is unfortunate that it has happened at a time when great efforts are being made by the Archbishop of Canterbury to keep the worldwide Anglican Communion united.

"Within the Church in Wales, as in all churches, there are tensions and disagreements on a range of issues. I recognise that in some cases, these may be so insurmountable that people feel they would be better placed in a different church where they would be able to accept all its doctrines.

"My hope, however, is that, with mutual love and respect and God’s grace, we will all stay together and work through our differences, recognising that what we have in common is far greater than that which would drive us apart.

"In the Church in Wales, the bishops remain committed to maintaining a continuing place for all its members regardless of their position on this or any other issue."