The bishops will be ordained Catholic deacons on Jan.13 and priests on Jan. 15, according to a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Additionally, two other retired ex-Anglican bishops who also resigned at the conclusion of 2010, Edwin Barnes and David Silk, will also be ordained "in due course."
Those ordained as priests will continue to receive Catholic formation throughout the coming year, according to plans developed by the bishops' conference and the Vatican.
The fact that the Vatican is allowing ongoing formation, he said, is "one of the things that is very, very brave" about the plans for the ordinariate.
According to Broadhurst, the incoming Anglicans are well versed in Catholic doctrine and there is little threat of any surprises that might make them "turn back."
“I think the assumption you mustn't make is that Anglicans from most traditions are unfamiliar with the teaching of the Catholic Church on any major items. I mean, there's not likely to be any problems with faith. You know, I can't see that.”
He pointed to two historic points of contention between the two communions — the Church’s dogmas concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary’s “Immaculate Conception” and “Assumption.”
"We wouldn't be where we were if we didn't accept those and I think that is as simple as it is," he said.
He said he and his fellow Anglican pioneers are approaching their new lives as Catholics with "excitement and trepidation."
He looks forward to the day when he is joined by many others. "The ordinariate at the moment," he said, "is a bit top heavy. There are three ex-bishops, three nuns and two women, one of whom is my wife."