%1

Episocopal Church held to 'double standard,' says Jefferts Schori: Other churches have similar practices

Episcopal presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says other member bodies of the Anglican Communion apply a “double standard” when they challenge the U.S. church for having an openly gay bishop and blessing same-sex unions.

Other provinces in the 77-million-member communion have gay bishops and blessing ceremonies, Jefferts Schori told BBC Radio in an interview broadcast January 1, but are not as open about it. “There is certainly a double standard,” she said.

Take Episcopal Church at its word, says Archbishop Williams: Trying to broker a fragile peace

The spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion says it would be “unrealistic and ungrateful” to expect the Episcopal Church to make yet another attempt to explain itself.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, in a letter to the heads of the 38 member churches in the communion, released December 14, said Anglican churches should accept at face value Episcopal promises not to ordain any more gay bishops.