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Queen gives approval for women bishops
Queen Elizabeth II has granted Royal assent for the appointment of women bishops
BELFAST NEWSLETTER
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/
October 23, 2014
Measures paving the way for the appointment of women as bishops in the Church of England have received royal assent from the Queen, Speaker John Bercow has announced.
Mr Bercow told the Commons the Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure, agreed by both Houses of Parliament in the past week, had cleared its final legal hurdle with sign-off from the Palace.
The Church of England General Synod is meeting on November 17 to formally conclude the process and women will be eligible to fill vacancies after this date.
To calls of "hear hear" from MPs, Mr Bercow said: "Her Majesty has signified her royal assent to the following measure: Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 2014."
Moving the motion in the Commons on Monday, Sir Tony Baldry, the second church estates commissioner, suggested legislation could be fast-tracked to allow a female bishop to join the House of Lords.
Sir Tony, who will step down as a Tory MP next year, said: "We all know there are very many excellent women in senior posts in the church and I have absolutely no doubt the first women bishops ... will be excellent candidates.
"This measure is long overdue. The ability of the Church of England to consecrate women bishops is long overdue, the arrival of women bishops in the House of Lords is long overdue."
He added: "At present, diocesan bishops are appointed to the House of Lords on the basis of seniority, so getting women bishops into the House of Lords could take some time if the normal system of seniority were simply left to take its course.
"However, I am glad to be able to report to the House that there has been consultation with all the main parties on the possibility of introducing a short, simple Government Bill to accelerate the arrival of the first woman bishop in the House of Lords, and I hope that such a Bill will be able to be taken through during this session."
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