London, England - British Anglicans and Roman Catholics sought on Wednesday to bridge doctrinal differences, but readily admitted "our communion remains imperfect."
Their leaders enjoy a strong personal chemistry but relations between the two churches have been severely tested over the issues of Anglican women priests and gay bishops.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the world's 77 million Anglicans, is chairing a meeting of bishops from both churches with Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.
Their two-day dialogue has taken on added significance because Williams is to make his first official visit to Rome later this month to meet
Pope Benedict at The Vatican.
This marks the 40th anniversary of the historic meeting between his predecessor Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI in 1966 -- that was their first formal get-together since England's King Henry VIII broke with Rome in the 16th century.
But gay and women priests, not the king's divorce and the dissolution of the monasteries, are the big stumbling blocks this time.
In a joint statement, the two Church leaders conceded: "Our communion remains imperfect."
But they added: "Our enthusiasm for dialogue means that we must be honest in addressing issues on which we disagree. This is possible when we hold to the Gospel."
The Anglican Church was plunged into crisis in 2003 when the Episcopal Church in the United States appointed an openly gay bishop. That enraged conservative Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Another divisive issue is the ordination of women priests which the Church of England first approved back in 1992.
The Episcopal Church further fanned the flames by installing Katharine Jefferts Schori as its first woman primate this month.
Reflecting on the state of Catholic-Anglican relations, religious commentator Clifford Longley told Reuters: "At a personal level, relations have never been better."
"But the Anglican Church is in much greater turmoil," he said. "I don't think anyone can look forward to unity (between Catholics and Anglicans) in their lifetime."
"If the Anglican church goes too far, it will make co-operation with the Catholic Church more difficult."
Paul Handley, editor of the Church Times Anglican newspaper, felt the women priests issue was more divisive than gay bishops.
"The Anglican view is that by ordaining women, they haven't changed the fundamentals of the priesthood. Roman Catholics view that as a fundamental change. No one is going to retreat."