The Catholic Church on Tuesday criticised the Church of England's vote to allow women to become bishops, warning it would hamper reconciliation between the two churches."We have regretfully learned the news of the Church of England vote that paves the way for the introduction of legislation which will lead to the ordaining of women to the episcopacy," said the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
After a lengthy debate on Monday, the Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod decided to abandon the tradition of male-only bishops.
The General Synod also approved a code of conduct containing 'safeguards' for opponents to the consecration of women bishops.
The final hurdle for women bishops is expected next February with a Synod vote on the as-yet unspecified safeguards.
The decision came 15 years after the Church of England - in a move condemned by the Vatican - began the ordination of women priests in England and Wales.
"The Catholic position on the issue has been clearly expressed by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II," the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity statement continued.
Both pontiffs cited Jesus' choice of males as apostles as the reason why women could not be priests, a position upheld by Pope Benedict XVI.
"Such a decision signifies a break with the apostolic tradition maintained by all of the Churches since the first millennium and is, therefore, a further obstacle to reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Church of England," the statement added.
It warned the decision would "have consequences on the future of dialogue" between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
The Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century.
It is the officially established church in England and Wales and the hub of the Anglican Communion - an international association of national Anglican churches with 78 million members.
The move to approve women as bishops in Britain followed the lead taken by Anglican churches elsewhere; in the United States, Australia and Canada, women have been appointed as bishops for some years.
Deep divisions between traditionalists and liberals have emerged within the Anglican church over gay clergy and marriages as well as female priests and bishops.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce