Well, it is new, because it is essentially creating an Anglican Catholic Church, just like the Eastern Catholic Churches. It has more permanence, it has measures for the training and formation of Anglican Rite priests (which was missing before) a structure for the Anglican Rite to be administered, and I think more to the point it acknowledges Anglicanism as a meaningful and real spiritual tradition, as having a truly catholic character. In the past, Anglicans moving to Rome have mostly got the impression they need to leave their whole spiritual tradition behind as if it is meaningless, or at most can use it for a time as a provision to their human weakness.
I think it will appeal to some. Apparently it has been set up in response to numerous requests from Anglican groups to the Holy See. I have recently heard of a number of monastic groups wholly going over to Rome, and I think this will be especially nice for those groups. It seems to me it will not so much appeal to conservative Anglicans outside of the West, who are the majority in those places.
Now, many Anglicans, while having troubles with the direction of the Anglican Church, still feel that Rome has long misunderstood the nature of its own authority. Most of those people will be hesitant, though they may consider it as a last ditch option. OTOH, many Anglicans have come to the conclusion that their own system has failed - scripture,reason and tradition. They have nevber been quite as strickt about the meaning of tradition as much of the East, and they don't have the central authority of the Roman West. But they did have the Book of Common Prayer, which functioned as the lens or screen of what was Anglican, and tied Anglicans together, for many years. But having seen it essentially destroyed in the last 30 years has shaken people's faith. Some have come to the conclusion that if that can happen, there needs to be some other fail-safe against apostasy. Those are the people that may be very interested in this new Anglican Rite. It seems to me there are more in England than in the US - I am not sure about here in Canada.
It will be interesting what affect this will have on the Anglican Communion. It could further accent the rift between the West and the rest of the world, and leave the Archbishop of Canturbury in a difficult position.
Other questions I have had are what liturgy will be used. I have heard two versions - one that it will be based on the old prayer book or sarum use, the other that it will be based on the new American BCP.
I hope the latter isn't the case, and it seems odd to me it would be given that the CC seems to be moving away from the NO to some extent, and the two were based on the same liturgical fads. Also, how widespread are these parishes going to be? Will they only exist where whole parishes want to make the switch? If so, they will be limited numbers I think, since many parishes have a small number who might be interested but by no means the whole parish.
I also wonder what kind of legal wranglings over buildings may follow.
FWIW, I have heard a number of Catholics worried that it will have a bad effect on Latin priests celibacy. Personally, I think if it raises questions, there is no reason the Latins should be afraid of seriously reconsidering the question, whatever decision they came to it might be a fruitful discussion.
