” “A revolutionary change, a decision that will most likely irretrievably split the "Church of England" and will complicate its relations with Rome. This is how the British papers are regarding the decision of the Anglican General Synod, met in York, to give the go-ahead to the ordination of women bishops. In this way, one day there might be a woman at the head of this religion that is subject to Canterbury. For the time being, it is up to archbishop Rowan Williams to prevent this state religion, which dates back to Henry VIII, irretrievably splitting between those who think that Jesus only wanted to have male apostles and those who are convinced that excluding women from priesthood and bishopric would amount to discrimination. During the poll, thirty-one bishops voted for women and nine voted against; among the psstors, one hundred thirty-four were for and forty-two against, and among the laymen one hundred twenty-three were for and sixty-eight against. Today, the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is going to kick-start the legislative process required to ordain women to bishopric. It won’t be easy to find a compromise that will please those parishes that are against such decision and that have already stated they will suspend the funding they give to the central coffers of the Church. In 1994, those who were for the ordination of women pastors accepted a third Anglican province, with separated bishops, which came to gather the parishes that supported women. Today, supporters of women bishops oppose to this possibility. ” “
