Church leader John Hepworth to quit over 'dissent'

Anglican breakaway archbishop John Hepworth, who alleges he was raped by a Catholic priest nearly 40 years ago, has resigned as the global head of the Traditional Anglican Communion.

Mr Hepworth said "considerable dissension" among members of his breakaway church had forced him to write to all archbishops and bishops to announce he would stand down as primate on Pentecost in May.

"There has been considerable dissension in our midst in the past year," he said.

"Profound doctrinal and moral differences have grown between us.

"It is my intention, provided the membership of our college is substantially clarified in the next few months, to tender my resignation as primate at Pentecost."

But a vote last week in the TAC House of Bishops called for his immediate removal from office, with two-thirds of all eligible voters asking for his immediate resignation, according to Anglican website Virtue Online. To read nore, click here.