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Conservatives Break With Anglican Church

Debate over homosexuality leads to schism 'in all but name'

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Traditionalist Anglican bishops, most of them representing the developing world, have broken away from the Anglican communion and formed their own global church. Galvanized by the consecration of Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, the disgruntled clergymen have formed the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which rejects the supremacy of the Church of England and adheres to hardline doctrine.

The leaders of the breakaway movement deny that they are splitting from the Anglican communion. But the Guardian reports that FOCA is a schism in all but name; in a statement, they said that "we do not accept that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury." The new church will follow a strict 17th century teaching without modern traditions, and it will break ties with the American Episcopal Church.

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, leader of the Episcopal Church, and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, walk into a press conference in New Orleans.
Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, leader of the Episcopal Church, and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, walk into a press conference in New Orleans.   (AP Photo/Judi Bottoni, FILE)
A clergyman swinging an incense pot leaves the Anglican Church in the earthquake and tsunami affected island of Gizo in the Solomon Island, on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007.
A clergyman swinging an incense pot leaves the Anglican Church in the earthquake and tsunami affected island of Gizo in the Solomon Island, on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
The consecration of V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, was a turning point for the Anglican union.
The consecration of V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, was a turning point for the Anglican union.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams at Church House, Westminster, London, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams at Church House, Westminster, London, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008.   (AP Photo)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams arrives at Great St. Marys Church in the centre of Cambridge, England, Saturday Feb. 9, 2008.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams arrives at Great St. Marys Church in the centre of Cambridge, England, Saturday Feb. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/PA, Chris Radburn)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, address worshipers in Canterbury Cathedral, England, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, address worshipers in Canterbury Cathedral, England, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007.   (AP Photo)
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The sidelining of Rowan Williams
Telegraph (UK)

Conservatives insist it isn't a split
Reuters

 
Episcopal Church • Anglican Church • religion • Gene Robinson • Archbishop of Canterbury • homosexual clergy

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