THE Catholic Group on the General Synod has initiated a letter of support for the Bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt Revd Jack Iker. He has been warned by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori, of disciplinary action if his diocese changes its constitution to effect secession from the Episcopal Church.<\/p>\n
The letter has 51 signatories. It applauds Bishop Iker\u2019s \u201cstand for scripture and traditional Faith and Order\u201d\u009d and describes the Episcopal Church\u2019s \u201cdeparture\u201d\u009d from this as \u201cdeeply damaging and divisive within the Anglican Communion and in our relationships with major ecumenical partners\u201d\u009d. It describes the leadership\u2019s use of litigation as \u201cnothing short of a scandal\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n
It continues: \u201cWe are delighted by the Archbishop of Canterbury\u2019s statement in response to Bishop John Howe of Central Florida that any diocese compliant with Windsor remained in communion with the See of Canterbury and the mainstream of the Anglican Communion, and trust that you and your diocese will be encouraged thereby.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n