News for Week Ending 12/24/2012
Canadian primate lobbies against ACNA recognition
Anglican Ink reported December 19, 2012, that Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Anglican Church of Canada’s primate, has lobbied Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury designate, against any formal recognition of Bob Duncan’s Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). The two church leaders met at Auckland Castle, Durham, on December 6.Archbishop of Canterbury urges gun control, a new spirit
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, in his final “Thought for the Day” for BBC Radio 4 on December 22, 2012, spoke out for gun control in the U.S. in light of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary a week earlier. “If all you have is a gun,” he said, “everything looks like a target.” Arms control is only a start, however, “a new heart, a new spirit” is also needed for a peaceful world. His remarks can be found here.The Lead has reported that two Episcopal bishops, Jon Bruno of Los Angeles and James Curry of Connecticut, have offered on-line petitions urging reinstatement of the assault weapons ban and other measures. Washington bishop Mariann Edgar Budde and Atlanta bishop Rob Wright have also spoken out on the need for gun control.
Fallout from rejection of women bishops measure continues
The rejection of the measure to provide for women bishops in the Church of England—see Pittsburgh Update story here—continues to have repercussions. The Guardian reported December 17, 2012, that the Rev. Philip North, a traditionalist Anglo-Catholic who was slated to become the next Bishop of Whitby, has declined the post due to complaints over his opposition to the ordination of women. Andrew Brown, also writing for The Guardian, suggested December 18 that it may soon become impossible for opponents of ordained women to become bishops.The Web site Get Surrey reported December 18 that laypeople in the Diocese of Guildford have called for the resignation of three lay representatives to the General Synod who voted against the women bishops measure even though sentiment in the diocese favors the consecration of women bishops. Canon Dr. Hazel Whitehead, who organized a meeting to consider a call for resignation, is quoted by Get Surrey as saying that representatives are not required to represent the views of voters, but it is expected that they will.
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