When Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams meets with Pope Benedict XVI here on Nov. 21, the two men will be making the latest gesture in a four-decade-long effort to achieve unity between their churches.<\/p>\n
But some Catholics and Anglicans fear the future of that endeavor could be jeopardized by the Vatican\u2019s plans, announced last month (Oct.), to make it easier for Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. Former Anglicans, many of whom are upset by their church\u2019s growing acceptance of female clergy and homosexuality, will be allowed to join special Catholic dioceses while retaining many of their traditional prayers and hymns, and to a limited extent a married priesthood.<\/p>\n
Williams, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, will visit Rome for five days (Nov. 18-22) of meetings and events aimed at \u201ckeeping alive the ecumenical endeavor,\u201d\u009d said his Vatican envoy, the Very Rev. David Richardson.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t see it as in any way a comment on the ecumenical conversations,\u201d\u009d Richardson said of the Vatican\u2019s move, which he called a \u201cpastoral response\u201d\u009d to the requests of disaffected Anglicans. \u201cIt\u2019s a side issue for ecumenical dialogue.\u201d\u009d Richardson noted that Williams\u2019 visit to Rome was scheduled before the Vatican rolled out its welcome to Anglican dissidents.<\/p>\n