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A group of “traditional Anglicans” in Australia has voted to accept the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI to convert to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, while retaining their membership in the Anglican Church. Meeting in Melbourne on February 13, the Australian branch of Forward in Faith, which comprises many members of the international Anglo-Catholic group called the Traditional Anglican Communion, “received with gratitude” the pope’s invitation in October to join the Roman communion.

The (Anglican) Church of England’s main legislative body said February 10 in London that it recognizes and affirms the desire of the breakaway Anglican Church of North America to remain in the Anglican fold. But the General Synod simultaneously said that it was not ready yet to be in full communion with the conservative group. American Anglican Council President David Ander son, a former Episcopal priest, told Episcopal News Service he was pleased with the outcome, despite the lack of full acceptance.