The Ecusa, the American Episcopal Church, appointed last night, for the first time in history, a woman bishop at its leader, choosing a road that makes the fear of a schism within Anglicanism even more real. Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, this is the new leader’s name, has a similar role to that of the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and is said to have a permissive attitude towards the ordination of gay pastors and gay marriages. From now on, it will be harder for the archbishop of Canterbury to avoid a split within the Anglican communion between traditionalists and liberals and to keep in touch with the Catholic church, for which, as it was recalled by Cardinal Kasper a few days ago, the ordination of women bishops is a further obstacle on the way to unity. The American Episcopal Church has over two million members in the United States, where it represents the Anglican communion, and seventy-seven million members across the world. Three years ago, the American Episcopalians appointed the first gay bishop in their history, Gene Robinson, thus fuelling disagreement within the communion. From now on, this will cause a stir with the traditionalist bishops, who would like the Episcopalians to be expelled from the Anglican communion.
