Anglicans 'expel' Canada (and also the openly apostate U.S. Episcopal Church!)

Anglicans 'expel' Canada
Clergy barred from key bodies over gay marriage

Bob Harvey; with files from Natalie Alcoba
CanWest News Service, with files from The Daily Telegraph

NATIONAL POST
Thursday, June 23, 2005

The fierce battle within the Anglican Church over homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage has brought the Canadian and American branches of the faith to the brink of banishment by the Church's ruling bodies meeting in England.

The controversy flared up at the Anglican Consultative Council session in Nottingham yesterday, pitting the liberal, pro-homosexual Canadian and American congregations against a hardline coalition of African and Asian wings that bitterly opposes homosexual involvement in Church affairs.

At the root of the dispute is the consecration of openly gay clergyman Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire and the decision by the diocese of New Westminster, B.C., to authorize the blessing of same-sex marriage.

The same-sex confrontation in the Church comes as the Parliament of Canada is locked in an equally bitter showdown over government legislation that would make Canada only the third nation in the world to legalize formal same-sex marriage.

Yesterday the Consultative Council rejected the North American rationale for homosexual participation in Church affairs and voted to banish both Canada and the U.S. from the council and its central finance and standing committees.

A watered down resolution that stopped short of demanding North American banishment from all Church bodies, requested "that the Episcopal Church [U.S.] and the Anglican Church of Canada withdraw their members from the council's standing committee and the inter-Anglican finance and administration committee."

The resolution passed 30-28 in a secret ballot, with four abstentions, behind the closed doors of the council's session at the University of Nottingham.

Although somewhat milder than the original version, The Times of London noted "it amounts in effect to a punishing expulsion."

"If there was any doubt left about the serious nature of this rift, this week's meeting has made clear how far from agreement both sides appear to be, and the extent to which neither is willing to compromise," said The Times. "The deepening anger on both sides means the 2008 conference in Canterbury could see savage theological conflict."

The newspaper added that the events of the week moved the Church "closer to schism."

The Church's official policy declares homosexuality "incompatible with scripture."

The Canadian and U.S. branches of the Church had already agreed to refrain from participation in the governing council until 2008.

Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola has been the loudest of the Asian and African critics of the North American churches and submitted yesterday's resolution. Both U.S. and Canadian leaders came to this week's council meetings to explain why they had taken stands that marred their relationships with sister churches.

However, Canadian delegates, including the church's primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, refused to drop their support of the blessing of same-sex unions in Vancouver.

Reverend Peter Elliott, dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and the deputy chairman of the Canadian church's governing body, its General Synod, told the Consultative Council on Tuesday, "I am a gay man. I am in a committed partnership myself."

He said he is able to hold such a visible position in the Church because of the support of his partner, his family, his bishop and his diocese.

In a letter to the international Anglican Consultative Council, Archbishop Hutchison expressed regret over strained relationships with other Anglicans and agreed that until Canada's General Synod meets in 2007, there will be a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions.

The Canadian delegation told the meeting in Nottingham that the Church exists in a social, cultural and political context where seven of 10 provinces have already authorized same-sex marriages. But Bishop Sue Moxley of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island said that despite their differences, Canadian leaders continue to see themselves as part of the worldwide Church.

The Right Reverend Catherine Roskam, the suffragan bishop of New York, called on other Anglican churches to learn to live with different approaches to sexuality. In a 130-page document, the U.S. Episcopal Church argued that its members have found holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination of homosexuals.

Charlie Masters, national director for Anglican Essentials Canada, a group that represents conservative Anglicans, welcomed yesterday's decision, calling it an opportunity for the Canadian church to change its direction.

"It shows that the Anglican communion is strong in its resolve to call the Anglican Church back to Anglican beliefs," he said.

The meeting of delegates from the 38 Anglican churches will continue until June 28. National churches must then decide whether to accept or reject any decisions made at the meetings.

© National Post 2005

Re: "What I find particularly offensive about the RCC position on Mary is the ever-aggressive position that praying to her is necessary for salvation. This is completely wrong, and goes against all that we learn from Christ himself. I think the Protestants have a valid argument against the RCC in this respect."

Yes they would if it was true the RCC taught praying to Mary was necessary for salvation. But that is not true the RCC does not teach that and any Catholic who does so is in heresy. It is advisable or recommended but never "necessary". If you want to be Catholic and never wish to pray to Mary you do not have to do so. The Rosary is not "necessary" but it is recommended. The prayers to Mary are beautiful and advised but not "necessary" for salvation but if you want to understand the Catholic devotion in these matters put yourself in Saint John's position at the base of the cross when Christ gave him to Saint Mary as her son and gave Saint Mary to him as his Mother. John was the one Apostle that stayed with Christ to the end and Mary was his reward. I want to be like Saint John and not like the ones that ran away. How about you?

What I find particularly offensive about the RCC position on Mary is the ever-aggressive position that praying to her is necessary for salvation.

Whoever told you that was flatly heretical. Lord knows I've heard it from time to time, but it is not and has never been doctrine. Certainly there are folks in the church who have mistakenly held that belief, but you can't control them any more than the Methodists can control the sweet little old teetotaler lady who is convinced that Jesus didn't turn water into wine. (She says it was "the fruit of the vine" and non-alcoholic, and nothing will convince her otherwise.)

I am not sure; we are now under a Bishop from Uganda --- a real, seriously persecuted (as in put in concentration camp by Muslims) Christian.

They were one of our church's missions --- now they came and helped us out --- bread on the water coming back.

Your posts prove my original point -- Anglicans and Roman Catholics have serious, and likely intractable, theological disputes --- one of which is the status of Mary --- that would prevent the two churches merging.

I have easy answers to all you say; I am sure you have tailor-made replys, BUT:

And as Paul, said, when discussing the inevitable theological disputes and denominational divisions that will arise among Christians --- believe these things with your whole heart --- but don't get into fights with other Christians about them --- 'cause they are trivia and distract from the one important thing we DO agree on --- Jesus was the Christ; he died for our sins.

Period, paragraph, end of sentence.

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