| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SYDNEY: Efforts to promote unity within different denominations of the Christian faith are at a "critical juncture", Pope Benedict XVI told other Christian leaders in Australia Friday.
His statement came as Anglican bishops gathered at Canterbury in England amid growing splits between liberals and conservatives over the ordination of women and gays as bishops.
Speaking at a meeting with leaders from other churches in Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral went on to say that doctrine should not be seen as divisive.
The pope, who has joined about 200,000 Catholic pilgrims in the city for World Youth Day did not elaborate on what he saw as the critical juncture in the search for greater unity but his comments came as the Anglican Church faces a growing crisis.
Anglican bishops from around the world gathered at Canterbury this week for a once-a-decade meeting amid splits between liberal and conservative elements of the church.
Around 650 bishops were to attend the 20-day conference with the issue of the position of gays and women in the church expected to dominate.
About a quarter of the church's bishops - including most from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda - are staying away, a week after the Church of England approved the ordination of women bishops.
- AFP/yb
|
