ACTION AGAINST EPISCOPAL CHURCH USA AND ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA - CONSERVATIVES WIN
"The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada could face suspension from the Anglican Communion, 35 Primates have decided in closed door meetings at the Dromantine center a secluded Roman Catholic retreat house.""Disciplinary action has been taken, and the two provinces' membership is under review following their actions over gay ordinations and same sex blessings."
"After three days of open, honest and very frank discussion by the Primates, VirtueOnline was told that the Primates had "reached a conclusion."
"Both provinces could face suspension at the end of three months if they fail to implement the recommendations of the Windsor Report.
"If they do not repent of their actions for consecrating an openly homosexual priest to the episcopacy, agree to a moratorium on consecrating future gay clergy and performing same sex rites, a "divorce" will be finalized by the end of May."
"Furthermore, ECUSA Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has been banned from attending any future Primatial meetings unless the Episcopal Church agrees to accept the Windsor Report recommendations."
"Sources inside the Dromantine Center told VirtueOnline that the Anglican Consultative Council has been told that they cannot invite Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold to any future gatherings if the status quo remains."
FULL STORY at http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2120
Flocks in U.S., Canada face split
"The U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada must cease ordaining homosexuals and conducting blessings of same-sex unions by 2008 or withdraw from the worldwide Anglican Communion, the denomination's archbishops ruled yesterday"."In the communique, 35 archbishops and presiding bishops representing the national churches on six continents gave their U.S. and Canadian members until the summer 2008 Lambeth Conference to decide whether to split from the worldwide body or adhere to Anglican policy that forbids both actions."
FULL STORY at http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050224-115733-2113r.htm
Anglicans demand temporary split
"The leaders of the world's Anglican churches have ended a four-day meeting in Northern Ireland with an ultimatum."They call on US and Canadian Anglicans voluntarily to withdraw their members from a key body, the Anglican Consultative Council, until 2008.
"In a key passage, the communique says: "... We request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference" [the ten-yearly meeting of all Anglican bishops, due next in 2008]."
FULL STORY at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4296373.stm
Gay row forces split with North American Anglicans
"A communiqué of the primates' meeting in Armagh published last night read: "We request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference.""During that period we request that both churches respond to questions addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they consider their place with the Anglican Communion."
FULL STORY at http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=614575
Church Faces Schism Today
"The worldwide Anglican communion was heading for an unprecedented schism last night as its member churches in the US and Canada were asked to withdraw from intercommunal gatherings following the rift over homosexuality."
"In a six-page communique, issued late last night following earlier leaks to the Guardian and other newspapers, the primates of the 78 million-strong Anglican church, attending a meeting in Northern Ireland, agreed to call upon the US and Canadian churches to withdraw voluntarily for at least three years.""Their representatives will not be invited to church meetings for that period. It was unclear whether the churches will be offered a form of associate or lesser status in the communion in the meantime."
"The statement said that "in order to recognise the integrity of all parties" the archbishops requested that the two churches withdraw their members from meetings of the joint Anglican Consultative Council."
FULL STORY at http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,1424975,00.html
Anglicans give ultimatum to pro-gay liberals