Vatican City, Jul 8, 2008 / 08:19 am
The Church of England voted on Monday evening to move ahead with the ordination of women as bishops. The outcome of the vote prompted the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to say that the decision is a “break with apostolic tradition” and a “further obstacle” to any efforts at dialogue between the two churches.
Following six hours of heated debate by the General Synod at the University of York, the majority of the bishops, clergy and laity voting blocks cast their ballots in favor of allowing women to be ordained to the episcopate. Bishops voted to approve ordaining women bishops by 28 to 12, clergy assented by 124 to 44 and lay people by 111 to 68.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity reacted to the decision, saying, "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.”
Listing its objections to the admittance of women, the council said, "The Catholic position on the issue has been clearly expressed by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. 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.”