Church plan for 'superbishops' to stop rebel exodus by clergy who refuse to be led by women

The Church of England is planning a new class of 'superbishops' to try to keep its rebel clergy within the fold.

The move is part of a rescue package aimed at stopping the Church breaking apart as leaders move towards the consecration of its first women bishops.

Under the last-minute deal, superbishops would be picked from the ranks of Anglo-Catholic traditionalists and given authority over parishes which refuse to accept the leadership of a woman bishop or priest.

But as the plan was unveiled, there were claims senior conservative CofE bishops have held a meeting at the Vatican to discuss 'closer ties' with the Roman Catholic Church.

The news created speculation that traditionalists are considering a mass defection to Rome because of the row over women bishops and the worldwide Anglican headache over homosexuality.

One possibility is that whole parishes and dioceses might move towards conversion to Catholicism.

Senior CofE figures indicated yesterday that a meeting at the Vatican had taken place, although the importance of the talks was played down. No bishop has admitted being part of any meeting.

Monsignor Andrew Faley, ecumenical officer for Catholic bishops in England and Wales, denied any knowledge of the talks, saying: 'I don't believe there is any truth in it.'

Meetings between CofE bishops and their Vatican counterparts are staged on a regular basis, he added.

When the CofE first ordained women priests 14 years ago, around 500 Anglican clergy left the Church for Rome.

The rescue package has been proposed by the Right Reverend John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.

It will be put to the General Synod, the Church's parliament, at a meeting in York later today.

'We are all going to have to accept some limitations over where we would like to be,' the bishop said. 'I don't think compromise is a dirty word.'

The superbishops  -  who would be appointed when the Church begins to choose women bishops, probably in 2014  -  will replace the 'flying bishops' who have been in place since women were first ordained as priests in 1994.

Flying bishops can be brought in by a diocese that has women priests to minister to parishes which do not recognise them.

Superbishops  -  or ' complementary bishops'  -  will be more senior figures, and parishes will be able to ask for their leadership without any interference from local diocesan bishops.

The plan for 'statutory transfer of specified responsibilities' also means they would assume spiritual and disciplinary leadership of rebel parishes.

But local diocesan bishops would keep control over parish purse strings and Church schools.

At today's meeting, Synod members will be asked to back a motion giving them seven more months before they have to choose between two ways to head off rebellion.

One is the superbishops scheme; the other is a plan to produce a code of practice with rules to protect the traditionalists from any dealings with women bishops.

The superbishops plan is thought to have support from leading figures including Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu.

Yesterday, as the General Synod gathered for a service in York Minster, the Archbishop of Canterbury claimed Jesus would be on the side of those suffering through the Church's internal wars.

Dr Rowan Williams said Christ is both with gay clergy who have doubts over their future, and with traditionalists who believe the Church they love is slipping away.

Speaking about the Old Testament story of Joseph, who was thrown in a waterless pit by his brothers, he said: 'In the middle of our discussions at Synod, where would Jesus be?

'He will be with those who feel that their liberty of questioning is under threat.

'He will be with gay clergy who wonder what their future is in a church so anxious and tormented about this issue.'