Posted on 10/04/2005 6:55:35 PM PDT by sionnsar
Since "jesuitical" has entered the English language, somebody should invent a word for this sort of thing:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, may decline to consecrate women if the Church decides to allow them to become bishops.
The proposal is being discussed at the highest levels of the Church as a way of averting a damaging exodus of traditionalists if the reform goes ahead. Pro-women campaigners will argue that it would treat women as second-class citizens.Under the proposal, Dr Williams would forgo his role as the primary consecrator of bishops in the south of England, delegating the task to another bishop.
Senior insiders believe that all but the most diehard opponents of women bishops would feel able to remain under the archbishop’s authority if he did not consecrate women personally.
I don't know which is sadder, the fact that the C of E actually thinks that Anglican conservatives would buy this ridiculous idea or Dr. Williams' stubborn refusal to see what is directly in front of his eyes. For a variety of reasons, the Anglican world is going to split a part and ludicrously desperate proposals like this one will not stop it.
Perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury may end up as a sort of titular, theoretical head of both halves of the Anglican world in much the same way as the Queen of England is the titular head of the Church of England. And the sooner Dr. Williams realizes this and stops trying to put Humpty-Dumpty together again, the happier both halves of the Anglican world will be.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Wouldn't it be interesting if Archbishop Williams had a conversion to Christianity? Stuned beebers all over the landscape!
Queen Elizabeth is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. What does she make of all this?
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