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.”
