English bishops to review homosexuality issues
In a statement released July 1, 2011, the House of Bishops of the Church of England announced two initiatives dealing with homosexuality. The bishops last made a statement about homosexual clergy in 2005 in response to civil partnerships being approved in the U.K. A review scheduled to be completed in 2012 will review the 2005 statement and consider, specifically, whether clergy in civil partnerships should be considered as candidates for bishop. Pending that review, such persons will not be eligible for appointment to episcopal posts. A broader re-evaluation of homosexuality is to be completed by 2013.Jonathan Wynne-Jones of The Telegraph reported July 2 that conservatives have threatened schism if the review liberalizes the church’s attitude toward homosexuality.