How Women Bishops Affect Anglican-Catholic Dialogue

Interview With Secretary of Vatican's Unity Council
By Inma Álvarez
ROME, JULY 15, 2010

(Zenit.org).- After a bitter vote, the Church of England decided Monday that women can be consecrated as bishops. But the secretary of the Vatican's unity council says ecumenical dialogue will continue as before.

The synodal decision must be put to a referendum within a year by another similar synod; nevertheless it is a vote that marks an important point within the history of the Church of England.

The vote was noteworthy in another regard: a conciliatory amendment proposed by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, Rowan Williams and John Sentamu, was rejected.

Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, told ZENIT that the Anglican decision does represent an "enormous obstacle." Nevertheless, he said, the effects of this vote must be kept in a proper perspective. the rest