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| US Church drops gay bishops ban | US Church drops gay bishops ban |
| (1 day later) | |
| Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year ban on the appointment of gay bishops. | Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year ban on the appointment of gay bishops. |
| The decision could lead to the Episcopal Church's eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion. | |
| The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. | The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. |
| The decision was made at the church's General Convention in California. | The decision was made at the church's General Convention in California. |
| The resolution was passed by wide margins by both of the church's main decision-making bodies, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. | The resolution was passed by wide margins by both of the church's main decision-making bodies, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. |
| The election of the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Right Reverend Gene Robinson, six years ago created an apparently irreconcilable rift between liberal and traditional Anglicans. | The election of the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Right Reverend Gene Robinson, six years ago created an apparently irreconcilable rift between liberal and traditional Anglicans. |
| Liberals believe the Bible should be reinterpreted in the light of contemporary wisdom. | Liberals believe the Bible should be reinterpreted in the light of contemporary wisdom. |
| Traditionalists insist that it unequivocally outlaws homosexuality. | Traditionalists insist that it unequivocally outlaws homosexuality. |
| I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America Dr Rowan WilliamsArchbishop of Canterbury | I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America Dr Rowan WilliamsArchbishop of Canterbury |
| To avoid expulsion from the Communion, the Episcopal Church agreed a temporary ban on the ordination of gay bishops. | To avoid expulsion from the Communion, the Episcopal Church agreed a temporary ban on the ordination of gay bishops. |
| But, impatient for change, its General Convention voted on Tuesday to end the moratorium. | But, impatient for change, its General Convention voted on Tuesday to end the moratorium. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams - who is head of the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion - said earlier in the week: | The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams - who is head of the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion - said earlier in the week: |
| "I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America." | "I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America." |
| The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said those behind the motion say it still leaves room for dioceses to exercise restraint, and keep in effect to a moratorium. | The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said those behind the motion say it still leaves room for dioceses to exercise restraint, and keep in effect to a moratorium. |
| But, he said, if it did lead to the election of another gay bishop, the decision would make it all but impossible for the Communion to stay intact. | But, he said, if it did lead to the election of another gay bishop, the decision would make it all but impossible for the Communion to stay intact. |