Anglican archbishop to meet with Episcopalians over same-sex issues

Published: 2007-04-16

TORONTO (CNS) -- To avoid what he called the very real possibility of schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion over blessing same-sex unions and ordaining openly gay men, Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England, will meet with U.S. Episcopal bishops in September. Speaking in French since Canada is bilingual, Archbishop Williams, spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, told reporters at an April 16 Toronto press conference, "Schism is a possibility" over questions of sexual morality. He added in English, "It is possible people will come to the point where people feel it's irreconcilable differences." Archbishop Williams would not say whether that point would come with the Sept. 30 deadline set in February by an international gathering of Anglican leaders. The primates of the communion's 38 provinces around the world called on the U.S. House of Bishops to make "an unequivocal common covenant" that they will not authorize the blessing of same-sex couples and to affirm clearly that they will not consent to the ordination of any other candidate for bishop who is living in a same-sex relationship unless some new consensus on that issue emerges throughout the communion.

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