Bermuda likely to end ban on women priests

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=2822

[Religious Intelligence] 20 Sep 2008--Bermuda’s ban on women priests will likely end this year, as the two candidates for bishop have announced their support for introducing women clergy to the island.

Canon Patrick White and Archdeacon Andrew Doughty, who are standing for election as bishop next week at a special meeting of the diocesan synod in both announced their support for overturning the diocese’s male-only rule for priests and deacons. The outgoing Bishop, the Rt Rev Ewen Ratteray who retired to Yorkshire in March, was an Anglo-Catholic traditionalist opposed the ordination of women.

Bermuda is an extra-provincial diocese of the Anglican Communion under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and is the last diocese under Dr Williams’ metropolitan jurisdiction to forbid the ordination of women to the priesthood. Confirmation of the election of a Bishop of Bermuda is made by the Archbishop of Canterbury.