Critics described the change in Church rules as “utterly unacceptable” and warned it would undermine the biblical teaching that marriage is for life.
Conservative and liberal bishops have been deeply divided over the issue, which they have been secretly discussing for months.
While Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, supported relaxing the rules, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, is understood to have fiercely argued against a change.
But The Sunday Telegraph has learnt that the change was agreed at a meeting of the House of Bishops in May.
I blogged on this today. http://sbarnabas.com/blog/2010/06/06/here-we-go-again/
A very sad moment in which there is a further slide. If bishops do not live by certain standards and become exemplars of life long fidelity then who will? What message does this send out?
It says loud and clear that vows made at the altar are not really binding…..how wrong and yet ANOTHER sign for those looking to enter the Ordinariate. Anglicanism is spiritually dead.
What it says is “we don’t take our religion seriously, we are only playing at it. After all, why should we be ‘better’ than everyone else?”
This most recent development should come as no surprise. Scripture and Sacred Tradition have been emptied of all authority, and common sense has been abandoned. Once a body appropriates the power to change apostolic tradition then anything is possible. The question becomes – what’s next? The first transgendered bishop?
So….what are those earnest young couples who embark on the marriage courses run by our churches supposed to take from the example of their bishops?
Good grief – yet another error of judgment from the ABC.
[Edited by Elf]
The ac/na have some divorced and remarried bishops as well.
As do (#5) most, if not all, “Continuing Anglican” bodies.
RMBruton – two wrongs don’t make a right. How sad for the church.
Actually, this is much more serious:
[blockquote]The first beneficiary of the change could be the Rev Nick Holtam, vicar of St Martin in the Fields in London[/blockquote]
Screaming advocate of all things to do with gay inclusion.
[blockquote]Senior figures in the diocese of Southwark were angered by the prospect of not being able to appoint a man they saw as an outstanding candidate for the post. They have welcomed the change in the Church’s position.[/blockquote]
Presumably Carrot Top who is involves himself with Crown Nominations and who will bless whatever you want at Southwark Cathedral as he slyly told listeners to Radio 4.
We currently have a backlog of bishop appointments including Rochester and shortly Durham, not to mention Southwark. With another recent appointment in Chelmsford coming out, so to speak, in favor of all things gay in breach of the moratoria, it looks like we have a plot by Rowan and the Affirming Catholics to stuff the HOB with like-minded heretics, who will happily give you a gay wedding and invoke saints at the same time.
So it looks like the master plan is for:
1. Divorced bishops;
2. Women bishops; and
3. Lesbian bishops [there are one or two apparently flying under the radar under consideration for 2. above].
That is after the AffCaths have completed the fratricide of their brother Anglo-Catholics.
To hell in a handcart with the AffCath bishops it looks like if they have their way. Of course it will all end in tears, because the growth in the church is in the Evangelicals – New Wine, HTB etc.
What a prat, and what a bunch of prats – have you learnt nothing from TEC about how not to build up the church?
Actually, I know ACNA has some divorced and remarried priests, but I don’t know of any bishops – in fact, I know of some remarried priests that were explicitly told that they would NOT be eligible to be bishops because of their remarriage. Can you tell me which bishops you know of, RMBruton?
Heck, why not just make everyone a Bishop? Seems so terribly exclusionary not to!
The Continuing Anglicans and the Continuing Episcopalians seem to have had a rather relaxed view regarding divorce amongst the clergy, as well. The New Testament is very clear that those holding such office in the Church should be the husband of one wife.
In the matter of divorce and remarriage, the Anglican Church has finally caught up with its original Head.
Bad idea; I agree with ++York, and Pageantmaster drops the dime on all of them…and, I agree twice…”prats” they are.