Danbury woman breaks barrier in Episcopal church
March 14, 2007

DANBURY, Conn. -- The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut has chosen a Danbury woman to be its first female bishop.

Laura Ahrens, 44, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Danbury, was elected assistant bishop, or suffragan bishop, by more than 500 lay people and clergy during a special vote Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford over the weekend.

The Episcopal Church began allowing women to serve as priests in 1976.

Ahrens became a priest 16 years ago."It's obviously a great moment for women," Ahrens said Tuesday. the rest