07/07/2008
Vatican and Anglicans Hold Secret Talks Against Gay Priests, Women Bishops
Anglican websites and news media in England are reporting that secret talks were held in York, England over the weekend by "a handful of Pope Benedict XVI's most trusted advisers" and senior Anglican bishops who refused to include the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the meeting was "an historic union to topple the controversial Anglican push to admit gay unions and the ordination of women bishops.":
"The Anglicans have been bitching about homosexuality ever since the United States arm decided to appoint Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop and allowed services for same-sex unions. The Conservative arm fear gay blessing services are already being conducted in the UK and the Sunday Telegraph wrote a story last month about a "wedding" ceremony held for two gay priests. Now that the Anglicans plan to allow women bishops, there is a fear that clergy will defect to the Vatican and Rome: 'The internal pressure of the Anglican communion has pushed us apart and we're committed to greater unity with Rome. There can be no future for Christianity in Europe without Rome.' a bishop is reported to have stated anonymously."
Posted 8:28 AM EST by Andy Towle in Anglican church, Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, News, Pope Benedict, Vatican | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I don't understand the conflict here. If the anti-gay and anti-women forces want to convert to Catholicism, there's really nothing stopping them. Then the Anglican Church proper can get on with the business of worshipping inclusively.
Posted by: Progression | Jul 7, 2008 9:07:31 AM
Good. Let them have their secret meetings. Let them fracture their exclusive religions into oblivion. Only through acceptance and adaptation can any stream of contemporary Christianity hope to survive. Otherwise, those faiths are destined to die out with their last, hateful, fearful and bigoted members.
Posted by: seeldee | Jul 7, 2008 9:17:00 AM
Um, sorry for the "brimstone" in that rant I just posted. Having re-read it, I realize I come across as being as insane as the Fundies. I was very upset when I wrote that, I suppose but I'm an atheist for crying out loud - why should I care what the Anglican and Catholic churches do with themselves?
Posted by: seeldee | Jul 7, 2008 9:20:16 AM
It's like Santa Claus meeting with the Easter Bunny to ban gay elves...
Posted by: Mike | Jul 7, 2008 9:42:22 AM
>>why should I care what the Anglican
>>and Catholic churches do with themselves?
Because there are Anglicans and Catholics in this country whose votes help determine GLBT rights. If the Anglican Church officially worships inclusively, it will help sway others to cast their votes for GLBT rights in elections.
Posted by: Progression | Jul 7, 2008 9:42:52 AM
I can just imagine their conversation.
"First the Episcopal Church ordained women, then they consecrated a gay bishop. I suppose next they will want to allow dogs to be priests!"
Posted by: voet | Jul 7, 2008 10:23:10 AM
The Catholic church has long wanted to reunite all branches of Christianity under its aegis, and these talks are part of that process. Thus, it's important for them to get other christian denominations to have the same doctrines of faith. There is also the issue that conversion/recruitment in the third world would be hindered by gay acceptance within the church, as these places are rabidly anti-gay, particularly Africa. Of course, the Anglican church itself shows just how arbitrary being a christian can be. The church was set up by Henry VIII over a tiff about divorce, where he would be head of the church (naturally) and millions went along with him without so much as a second thought. The ensuing century of strife and civil war in England with the remaining Catholics was a blast too.
Posted by: anon | Jul 7, 2008 11:57:56 AM
Let the Mother Church have them. I know that religion is incredibly important to the majority of the planet, but the past several years have finally turned my stomach and mind completely. As a former Episcopalian, I wish anyone well who wants to worship, regardless of whether it's an old white guy with a beard or a flying spaghetti monster. Just leave me and my civil rights the fuck alone. As Christina Crawford said, Jesus Christ!
Posted by: ZnSD | Jul 7, 2008 12:46:37 PM
Thank you Mike.
I, for one, and looking forward to the day when religion has finally recognized for what it is, superstition, and passes from our world.
Posted by: David R. | Jul 7, 2008 12:47:32 PM
Correction: "...when religion is finally recognized for what it is..." grr.
Posted by: David R. | Jul 7, 2008 12:48:36 PM
I've said it before, and I'll say it again... the Episcopal Church in America will be better off after it severs ties with the Anglicans. If that's really what the Anglicans want, let 'em have it. No one goes to church in England anymore. If they feel that they can afford to have the churchgoing (and tithe-paying) Episcopalians split off, then let it happen now. I rather think that the American and Canadian churches will be just fine on their own, thank you.
To quote Eric Cartman, "Screw you guys, I'm going home."
Posted by: The Milkman | Jul 7, 2008 2:33:28 PM
It's like Santa Claus meeting with the Easter Bunny to ban gay elves...
Santa has gay elves? I always worried about that...........
Posted by: oddjob | Jul 13, 2008 5:12:49 PM