As Canada’s Anglican Church prepares for its historic \u201d\u201c and possibly schismatic \u201d\u201c decision on blessing homosexual unions, six of its most senior clerics Thursday called for a yes vote that would show \u201cjustice, compassion and hope for all God’s people.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The declaration from the half-dozen retired archbishops from across the country reveals a sharp division in the church’s hierarchy.<\/p>\n
While the archbishops said that blessing the unions of same-sex couples does not touch on the church’s \u201ccore doctrine,\u201d\u009d last month the national House of Bishops issued a pastoral statement saying that the \u201cdoctrine and discipline of our church does not clearly permit [same-sex blessings].\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The vote will be taken at the church’s general synod, or parliament, meeting next week in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n