Colorado Episcopal Bishop Rob O’Neill joined his colleagues Tuesday, pledging not to push same-sex unions and openly gay bishops until a wider consensus emerges in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
\nThe U.S. bishops, meeting in New Orleans, were responding to a demand by the conservative Anglican majority overseas to renounce their pro-gay policies by Sunday, or face censure or even expulsion from the 72 million- member communion.<\/p>\n
However, conservative churches in Colorado won’t buy the bishops’ carefully worded compromise, the Rev. Jim Paul, of Fort Collins predicted Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“We’ve heard all this before,” Paul said.<\/p>\n
Paul said his 225 parishioners at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Collins will announce on Sunday’s deadline whether they plan to leave the diocese for a more compatible Anglican organization. He expects other Colorado churches to make similar decisions.<\/p>\n
“They’re being very quiet out there, but we know other parishes are lined up behind us,” he said.<\/p>\n