(RNS) Sensing that a move to allow same-sex marriage is all but official, bishops in the Church of England signaled they won’t try to derail it, even as they remain deeply uncomfortable with it.
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) “The Germans didn’t force us to close Canterbury Cathedral during the Second World War,” cathedral spokesman Christopher Robinson said. “So there’s no chance it will be closed to visitors because we need to carry out some urgent repairs.”
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The number of people attending Sunday services at Britain’s Anglican churches is continuing to drop, but church officials say there are signs that the decline is stabilizing.
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Gay rights leader Peter Tatchell says Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has the right to oppose homosexuality, but “in a liberal democracy he is not entitled to insist that his religious beliefs are legislated into law.”
COVENTRY, England (RNS) The new archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, says “reconciliation” across the bitterly divided Anglican Communion will be his top priority, but not a “fuzzy wuzzy tolerance” where everyone gets along for the sake of being nice.
(RNS) Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby inherits a church wracked by internal divisions over the ordination of women bishops and continuing strains within the larger Anglican Communion over divisive issues of sexuality.
LONDON (RNS) Justin Welby, a former oil executive who says he never thought he’d have sufficient experience to take on the Church of England’s top job, was formally confirmed as the next archbishop of Canterbury on Monday at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) A royal row has broken out between Church of England bishops and Prime Minister David Cameron’s liberal-minded coalition government over a planned bill to change ancient laws governing the royal line of succession. By Trevor Grundy.
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The Church of England on Friday (Jan. 4) confirmed that it has dropped its prohibition on gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops — but only if they agree to remain celibate. By Trevor Grundy.
