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Williams mulls women's ordination 'No doubts' over ordaining women
(about 1 hour later)
The Anglican Church may one day re-think its position on the ordination of women, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has suggested. There is no theological reason to re-visit the issue of ordaining women, the Archbishop of Canterbury says.
Ordaining women had not brought the sense of renewal many had hoped for, Dr Williams told the Catholic Herald a week before he meets the Pope in Rome. Rowan Williams' comments come after he told the Catholic Herald divisions in the Anglican Church had "tested his belief it was the right thing to do".
But Dr Williams said he still supported women priests and that "putting it back in the bottle was not an option". He insisted he was not "doubtful" about ordaining women, nor had he felt it was wrong. "Putting it back in the bottle was not an option," he added.
The Church of England had 1,262 women priests serving in 2002. The Church of England had 1,262 serving women priests in 2002.
It first ordained women as priests in 1994.It first ordained women as priests in 1994.
The archbishop told the newspaper he could "just about envisage a situation in which, over a very long period, the Anglican Church thought about it again, but I would need to see what the theological reason for that would be". The archbishop had told the newspaper he could "just about envisage a situation in which, over a very long period, the Anglican Church thought about it again, but I would need to see what the theological reason for that would be".
'No theological justification'
But on Thursday Dr Williams clarified his remarks, saying: "From the very beginning of this issue I have been a supporter of the ordination of women and have not doubted the rightness of the decision or the blessings it has brought."
I feel nothing less than full support for the decision the Church of England made in 1992 Dr Rowan WilliamsArchbishop of Canterbury
He said reports that the Anglican Church would reconsider the ordination of women were "wilfully misleading".
"I made it clear in the interview with the Catholic Herald, and will continue to do so, that I see no theological justification for any revisiting of this question, and indicated in the interview three times that I have no wish to reopen it, whatever technical possibilities might theoretically exist.
"My convictions mean that I feel nothing less than full support for the decision the Church of England made in 1992, and appreciation of the priesthood exercised," he said.
Views 'tested'Views 'tested'
Dr Williams was also asked if divisions within the Church had affected his views on the ordination of women. Dr Williams was also asked in the interview with the Catholic Herald if divisions within the Church had affected his views on the ordination of women.
"It has tested it, it really has, and there have been moments when I have felt that," he said."It has tested it, it really has, and there have been moments when I have felt that," he said.
"But I think perhaps what one doesn't realise is how very, very normal this has come to feel for the vast majority of Anglicans and it hasn't undermined what the people feel about the ministry of the sacraments."But I think perhaps what one doesn't realise is how very, very normal this has come to feel for the vast majority of Anglicans and it hasn't undermined what the people feel about the ministry of the sacraments.
"So that putting it back in the bottle is not an option." Dr Williams' remarks will also be viewed against the current debate within the worldwide Anglican Church, over the introduction of female bishops.
BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said Dr Williams' comments will disappoint many women clergy.
Our correspondent also says his remarks read like the dispassionate assessment of an academic theologian, taking a long view of church history.
Dr Williams' remarks will also be viewed against the current debate within the worldwide Anglican church, over the introduction of female bishops.