Church Faces Crisis Over Gay Policies
Conservative Anglican leaders issued one of their strongest condemnations yet of their liberal opponents as divisions over homosexuality deepened yesterday.The leaders, who represent about two thirds of the worldwide Church, said they were united in their resolve to force the expulsion of the Americans and Canadians if they did not reverse their policies on homosexuals.
After a five-day meeting in Egypt they also made clear that they were beginning to form alternative structures in case a split did occur.
The development will disappoint the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who flew to Egypt on Friday to call for restraint.
The conservatives are demanding that the Americans reverse their 2003 decision to consecrate Gene Robinson as Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop when they hold their General Convention next year.
They also want the Canadians to drop their endorsement of same sex blessings at their equivalent of the General Synod the following year.
Conservative Anglicans Say North American Priests Doing Too Little To Mend Church Rift On Gays
"Conservative Anglican clerics from Africa, Asia and Latin America accused North American priests Monday of not doing enough to stop supporting same-sex marriages and gay priests, which threatens to split the church.""The U.S. church will hold its general convention in June, at which American priests are expected to state their position on the issue of gay clerics and same-sex unions.""The American position will be taken up by a more important conference of the international communion scheduled for 2008. If conservatives are dissatisfied, it could set the scene for a schism in the church, Mouneer said."
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