Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the title of “monsignor” on the three
former Anglican bishops who entered the Catholic Church in January.
Msgr. Keith Newton, who will lead the new Anglican ordinariate in Great
Britain, has been named an Apostolic Pronotary, as has Msgr. John
Broadhurst. Msgr. Andrew Burnham is now a Prelate of Honor.
While each
rank carries the title of “Monsignor,” an Apostolic Pronotary holds the
highest ecclesiastical title available to clerics who are not bishops.
The norms published by the Vatican to accompany the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus
accorded special privileges to Anglican bishops who enter the Catholic
ordinariates.
With permission from the Holy See they may “use the
insignia of the episcopal office” even if they are not Catholic bishops,
and may be invited to join in the work of episcopal conferences “with
the equivalent status of a retired bishop.”
The Vatican norms made it
clear that the Anglican leaders who give up their episcopal office in
order to enter the Catholic Church should be accorded special respect.