'Substantial number' of clergy will leave over plans for women bishops

A "substantial number" of clergy are poised to leave the church as a result of plans to allow women bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury has been warned by senior clergy.
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
14 Aug 2008

A group of 14 traditionalist bishops claim that there are "irreconcilable differences" over historic reforms that would introduce women as bishops without giving proper concessions to oponents of the move.

In a letter to 1,400 clergy who have indicated that they are considering defecting from the Church of England, they are highly critical of a decision by the General Synod - the Church's parliament - to ignore proposals for a compromise over the divisive issue.

The Anglo-Catholic bishops have vowed to support clergy who feel unable to remain in the Church, but have pledged to fight for a better deal for traditionalists who do not believe women should be consecrated. the rest