back back to News previous previous story  |  next story next

Communion loosened

THE US House of Bishops has “failed to meet the hopes of the Primates”, says the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen.

In an article (Comment), Dr Jensen writes that the US bishops’ response to the Primates’ requests shows that they believe the practice of homosexual sex is not just morally acceptable but “demanded by the gospel itself”.

Dr Jensen writes that, although the Americans were prepared to wait for a short time “until the rest of the Communion catches up”, they do not intend to reverse their decision that “sexual rights are gospel”.

Dr Jensen calls on the Global South leadership for “another ‘Blast of the Trumpet’”, looking “steadfastly to a future in which the bonds of Communion have been permanently loosened”.

The Lambeth Conference could no longer “either unify Anglicanism or speak with authority”, he says. “Any authority which we may have ascribed to the deliberations of the Bishops has been lost permanently.” His reference to bishops “who cannot be present in good conscience” at Lambeth 2008 may be a signal that he will boycott the conference.

“How are we going to guard ourselves effectively against the sexual agenda of the West and begin to turn back the tide of Western liberalism?” he asks.


back back to News up back to top previous previous story  |  next story next


© Church Times 2006 - All rights reserved

Website by Baigent