Calls to unite Anglicans and Catholics under Pope

Plans to reunite Anglicans with Roman Catholics under the leadership of the Pope are to be published this year.

The proposal, is designed to encourage Christian unity. It has been discussed by senior bishops of both Churches and is being reviewed by the Vatican.

If agreed, it would see Anglicans reunited with the Roman Catholic Church just under five centuries after the Protestant split from Rome.

In a document titled Growing Together In Unity And Mission, the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, set up in 2000 to try to bring both Churches together, outlines how they could unite and calls for a "full, ecclesial union".

Such a historic reunion is seen as highly unlikely, not least because of turmoil among Anglicans themselves over gay ordination.

Divisions have erupted on that issue as archbishops of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion meet in Tanzania, with primates at the conference sending a message of support to orthodox members of the US Episcopal Church who are opposed to its ordination of gay bishop Gene Robinson.

Seven of the conservative primates have refused to share communion with Episcopal Church leader Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

But the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission claims that there is enough common ground between the two Churches to make a "call for action" to unite them.

It also outlines ways in which the two sides could be amalgamated.

These include Anglicans accepting the Pope as universal primate, inviting lay and ordained members of both denominations to attend each other's gatherings, and inviting Anglican bishops to accompany Catholic ones on visits to Rome.

It has also suggested that special protocols be drawn up to handle the movement of clergy from one Church to another and it lays out the common teachings for children at the Sunday schools of both churches.