The Archbishop of Canterbury, titular head of the world's 70 million Anglicans, has blamed Vancouver's bishop and the governing body of his diocese for the raucous global squabbling that has broken out in the church over the blessing of homosexual unions.
Using sharper language than he has previously applied to the controversy, Dr. George Carey said the decision by Bishop Michael Ingham and the synod of Greater Vancouver's Diocese of New Westminster to approve the blessing is a "departure from the main thrust of Anglican moral tradition."
He made it clear in a letter to Anglican primates -- senior archbishops of national Anglican churches around the world -- that the debate ignited by the New Westminster action is evidence of why "individual dioceses should not 'go it alone' in respect of such matters."
Condemnations of the New Westminster action have come from conservative Anglicans -- or traditional or orthodox Anglicans, as they call themselves -- from around the world.
Dr. Carey also said in a statement issued from London's Lambeth Palace that he had written to Bishop Ingham "seeking clarification" on such matters as what safeguards will protect priests who refuse to apply the rite and whether the diocesan synod adequately considered the impact of its decision on the world Anglican Church.
It is almost unprecedented for an archbishop of Canterbury to move on a decision taken within another national Anglican church.
A senior priest in the Canadian church, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged: "It's a bit over the line."
The Anglican Communion comprises 28 autonomous ecclesiastical provinces, some of which are grouped into national churches, as in Canada. By tradition, the archbishop of Canterbury is president of the world church. His only direct authority, however, is in the Church of England, of which he is primate.
Bishop Ingham, in an interview, said the archbishop is under a lot of pressure from a conservative church group in the United States known as the Anglican Mission in America, led by four bishops consecrated in June of 2001 by Archbishop Kolini and Archbishop Datuk Yong Ping Chung of Southeast Asia.
"I took it [his letter] as a request for information. He's clearly not aware of the years of study and thought that's gone into this."
Bishop Ingham said he appreciates Dr. Carey's interest.
Twice previously, the New Westminster synod has voted to permit a rite whereby priests could ask God's blessing on same-sex unions. Bishop Ingham withheld consent to avoid a split in the diocese. He created theological, legal and liturgical commissions to study the proposal.
When the issue again came before his synod for a vote last month, he said he was satisfied the synod had the authority to approve it and that it would not be a violation of official church teaching.