Open thread: The Anglican Situation

Even though we are still pre-Lambeth, the Anglican communion melting pot is quickly reaching the boiling point and, most importantly, the conservative run-off might make a run for Rome.

(Okay, I think I stretched that metaphor a bit too far. Anyway....)

The UK Telegraph has done a story on the most notable high-level candidate for conversion:

A bishop in the Church of England has become the first to announce he is ready to convert to Roman Catholicism following the decision to ordain women bishops without compromise measures for traditionalists.

The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, has called on the Pope as well as Catholic leaders in England and Wales to help him and his parishioners defect to Rome.

He hopes entire parishes under his control will convert but be allowed to remain worshipping in their existing churches, while guided by Catholic bishops.

Bishop Burnham, one of the three "flying bishops" in England who look after parishes which do not want women priests, has already been to the Vatican to discuss a possible move.

CWNews picks up on the story and fills in the details. I'll be watching the headlines closely in the coming weeks.

Now let's turn this into an open thread. Here are some starters:

• What do you think the Vatican reaction to such requests will be? What sort of accommodations might they make to make the transition easier?
• What do you think is the likelihood of high-level defections besides this one?
• In terms of raw numbers, how many Anglicans will follow their bishops' lead?
• How will the remaining Anglican communion respond to these developments?

Speak up!