on women priests

ATTEMPTS TO PLACATE traditional Anglicans opposed to the ordination of women "fall far short" of what is required if the future of the Church of England "is to be assured", Environment Secretary John Gummer warned this week.
Mr Gummer and a group of leading Anglican M_Ps and Peers wrote to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York on Wednesday to call for further legislative safeguards to ensure "a continuing and welcome place" for those who cannot accept women priests.
More than one third of the 30 members of the Ecclesiastical Committee, which has the duty of taking the legislation through parliament to allow women priests, wrote to Dr Carey and Dr Habgood to express their continuing fears for the future of Anglicans opposed to the legislation.
The 11 parliamentarians made it clear that they did not accept that the Act of Synod "does afford adequate protection". The Act, which allowed pastoral provisions for objectors to last year's measures, is not binding in law.
The letter, also signed by MPs Patrick Cormack and William Powell, Lord Robertson and the Marquess of Salisbury, said: "We believe that there must be a guarantee of the continue appointment of the opponents as Diocesan Bishops."