A Maryland Episcopal parish will be the first in the United States to join the Roman Catholic Church under a streamlined conversion plan created by the Vatican.
St. Luke's Episcopal parish in Bladensburg will come under the care of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Washington's Episcopal bishop said Monday he approves the plan.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. arm of the world Anglican Communion. Pope Benedict XVI issued an unprecedented invitation in 2009 to Anglicans to become Catholic while retaining some Anglican heritage.
Anglicans have been divided over ordaining women and gays.
Vatican
officials insist they were only responding to pastoral requests from
Anglicans.
U.S. Catholic leaders will soon create the equivalent of a national diocese for Anglo-Catholics.