Church of England clergy plan mass exit over women bishops
Have you heard the one about the “normal”, mainstream church that was inclusive and egalitarian and non-sexist, and whose clergy all got on like one big, happy family? Me, neither. Full points to Archbishop Rowan Williams for trying (again), though:
As the wider Anglican Communion fragments over homosexuality, England’s established Church is moving towards its own crisis with a crucial vote on women bishops this weekend. —The Times Online
In a letter to Williams, the “traditionalists” state, in part:
We do not write this in a spirit of making threats or throwing down gauntlets.
They’re not saying they’ll take their toys and go home if they don’t get their way but, coincidentally:
The Catholic Church is short of priests and is expected to welcome them again, even if they are married with families, as it did when the Church of England ordained women priests.
Wait a minute — there are Catholic priests with wives and children?? One wonders how the Catholic priests who didn’t come in through the Anglican-back-door feel about that.
Plus ça change…
