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IRELAND: Gay bishops trouble even the divine optimist
By Paul Majendie
ARMAGH (Reuters) 5/20/2005-- Anglican troubleshooter Robin Eames issued a warning on Friday to churchmen squabbling over the issue of gay bishops -- the ingredients are there for schism.
In an interview with Reuters, the Archbishop called on conservatives and liberals to lower the temperature of debate and recognise cultural divisions between North America and Africa in particular.
"They are not listening to each other," said Eames, author of the Windsor report that sought to find common ground.
The crisis erupted in 2003 with the ordination of Gene Robinson, the church's first openly gay bishop, in the United States, home to 2.3 million Anglicans known as Episcopalians. Robinson's election followed a decision by Canadian Anglicans to sanction same-sex unions in direct contravention of church policy on sexuality.
In contrast to the rigid hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, the world's 77 million Anglicans form a much looser communion, with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams as their spiritual head. Unlike the Pope, he has no powers of excommunication. Eames, who once played a pivotal role in getting Anglicans to agree to the ordination of women priests, regards the issue of gay bishops as the toughest he has ever had to tackle.
"I personally do not think we have schism, but the ingredients are there," said the 68-year Primate of All Ireland who has had to use all the skills he acquired trying to mediate in the long-running Northern Ireland sectarian conflict.
Eames, leader of Irish Protestants on both sides of the border, said: "I am known as the divine optimist but I have to be a realist. I have never seen such divisions in the world church as I have at the moment."
Appealing to churchmen to temper their language in the debate, he said "There should be more awareness of cultural differences on both sides."
Long gone are the days when the Anglican communion was dominated by the Church of England that sent missionaries and money to developing countries and imposed western ideals of Christianity.
"The centre of Anglicanism has now moved south of the Sahara," said Eames, reflecting on the thriving church in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where traditionalist values are very different.
African church leaders fear that if Anglicanism takes a lenient line on homosexuality, its followers will desert it for more conservative Christian churches or for Islam.
Infuriated, they are now thinking of ways to redraw the Anglican world map to exclude liberal provinces. Years of trying to bring peace between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland have taught Eames the value of patience and personal contact. But even the divine optimist is worried this time. In sombre mood, he concluded: "We are in trouble."
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