The Church of England is on a collision course with clergy who want to take property with them when they defect to Rome following a papal decision to help them convert en masse.In Westminster today, hundreds of Anglo-Catholics were mulling over the impact of the apostolic constitution, which will create a section in the Roman Catholic church for ex-Anglicans who wish to retain parts of their spiritual heritage. Delegates to the national assembly of the traditionalist group Forward in Faith, including dozens of clergy, heard they needed to address a key aspect of an "exodus" brought on by the ordination of women bishops. The Rev Geoffrey Kirk told the audience: "The Hebrews did not leave Egypt empty-handed. We must now apply ourselves to the task of securing our buildings and assets. We must ensure – for its own good and self-respect – that the Church of England is as generous in its dealings with us."
When the initiative was announced, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said people would face "formidable legal obstacles" if they wished to appropriate churches for their converted congregations. The Anglican bishop of Southwark, the Right Rev Tom Butler, has already written to his clergy warning against property seizure.
Delegates today were told the Vatican initiative was not to be taken lightly. The Right Rev Keith Newton, a "flying bishop" who provides care for people opposed to women clergy and has had several meetings with senior Vatican officials, said there was "no opportunity to negotiate the contents" of what was on offer.
Converts would have to accept all aspects of Catholicism and only maintain Anglican traditions that met with Vatican approval. For John Gaisford, the retired bishop of Beverley, it was too much. He said: "I never sought to cross the Tiber. I want to fight as fiercely as we can for our position within the Anglican communion." His remarks drew warm applause.
However, many people remarked how the Vatican had offered more than they had expected or hoped for. One cleric said they had gone "looking for a lifeboat and been offered a galleon".
The price would be high for clergy. They would have to leave behind a job, salary and home and be reordained.
One of the panel speakers was Fr David Houlding, who sits on the Archbishops' Council and is a member of General Synod, the Church of England's governing body. He would lose it all if he were to convert. "I am considering it, but there is a lot to consider," he said this week.
The pope's decision has many like him wondering where their future lies. They are anxious about whether legislation on women bishops will offer enough pastoral care for people opposed to their ordination, and there are fears that too much enthusiasm for the apostolic constitution will lead the synod to withdraw concessions for traditionalists.
One delegate said the mood of the mostly elderly crowd seemed to be against the Vatican initiative. Fear of the unknown may persuade people to stay where they are. "The Vatican is calling our bluff," said Houlding. "Many people have been angry with the Church of England and it's rather fun being angry. But now they're giving us what we want and it's an exciting but frightening development."