Rome can ill afford to support the imported clergy. And if it were to do so, it would create a even larger problem within its own fold. Anglican clergy is better paid than than diocesan Roman clergy. And to add insult to injury, some of the new starlets will be married, something that for the Roman clergy is a no-no. Therefore, the "Coetibus Anglicans" will have to get themselves a secular job to support themselves, and keep themselves and their spouses away from the locals. To wit,
Clergy in the Ordinariate would have to be in secular employment because the Roman Catholic Church could not raise the money — £64,000 in his case in London — to keep them in a house and stipend. (Church Times, http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=93683)
For them, then, just plain old conversion may be a better option: "Fr North said that the Ordinariate could become irrelevant: 'If we reach a point where staying is not an option, then traditional conversion is far more likely to offer the kind of enrichment and ministry that we know now.'"
The issue of property is a hot topic as well. Their houses of worship will have to stay on this side of the Tiber. In some places there may be some arrangement for the congregation leasing the old property from the Church, but I doubt the Diocese would be amenable to such a proposition. Litigation? They will have absolutely no chance. There is no court that will support a claim that "they never left the Anglican Communion".
Rome is not new to power plays. I am beginning to wonder if this so-called invitation was not something that Rome devised to get the troublemakers off its back, knowing well in advance that the massive exodus would end in being no more than a few souls here and there- Put up or shut up. If so, hat tip to Benedictus!
Note to TEC, the ACoC, and like-minded folks: Is there a lesson to be learned here?
