Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Cheers and tears on female bishops

http://www.theage.com.au/world/cheers-and-tears-on-female-bishops-20080708-3bh3.html?page=-1

[The Age] There was hand-wringing and breast-beating, and one bishop even burst into tears as the Church of England jettisoned an eleventh-hour olive branch to male traditionalists — and voted to proceed with the ordination of female bishops.

The extraordinary scenes unfolded inside the University of York late on Monday after the 468-strong three tiers of the Anglican General Synod — bishops, clergy and laity — voted to scupper a compromise that would have created a tier of "super bishops" to minister to parishes which oppose female bishops.

The vote followed an emotion-laden six-hour debate, and resulted in one bishop, the Right Reverend Stephen Venner, Bishop of Dover, breaking down in tears after announcing he was "ashamed" of his church for ignoring the feelings of those who cannot countenance female bishops.

"For the first time in my life I am ashamed. We have tackled for hours about wanting to give an honourable place for those who want to disagree, and we have turned down almost every realistic opportunity for those who are opposed, to flourish," he said.

Archbishop Williams might want to consider early retirement. Then Prime Minister Brown can nominate a woman archbishop for the See of Canterbury. We can all sit back and watch the 'scite' hit the fan!!

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