"I believe that the temporary suspension of the Church of England is the right course of action to take. The church will be subjected to the same procedures and discipline that America and Canada faced".

In a rare personal jibe against Williams, he said: "Lambeth Palace upholds our common historic faith. It will now lose that place of honour in the world. Must I come to Lambeth Palace in order to go to heaven. The answer is no!"

Had you first inquired concerning Father Mark Hansen and the conditions at Saint John's, Bristol, our communication would be far more productive. I regret that none of the bishops who signed the letter had the wisdom or courtesy to call before launching this broadside. If we are engaged in a "very public conflict," it is the work of others, and of letters such as yours.

In a February 2005 Communiqué within the Anglican Communion an urgent request was placed by the Primates, and in response the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Rowan Williams created and appointed a Panel of Reference to "supervise the adequacy of pastoral provisions made by any churches (that were experiencing) serious theological dispute with their diocesan bishops."

John Paul then came up with a "novel" idea: while not offering for discussion anything essential regarding the Petrine office, John Paul was prepared, he said, to discuss with other Christians how to "exercise" the office of the See of Peter in a way acceptable to Orthodox and Protestant Christians separated from Rome.