Monday, August 4, 2008

Anglican Leader Seeks Moratorium on Gay Bishops


Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, struggling to hold together the troubled world Anglican family, urged church leaders gathered Sunday in England not to consecrate another gay bishop, saying the fellowship will be in ''grave peril'' without a moratorium.

In his final speech at the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, Williams said Anglicans need ''space for study and free discussion without pressure'' about whether to accept changes in traditional biblical understanding of same-sex relationships. He also asked churches to refrain from adopting official prayers for blessing same-gender unions.

''If the North American churches don't accept the need for moratoria, then to say the least, we are no further forward,'' Williams said at a news conference ending the 20-day assembly in Canterbury. ''That means as a communion we continue to be in grave peril.''

No comments: