Archbishop warns
Nigeria could break from Church of England over
homosexuality

Nigeria's Anglican archbishop said Thursday that Nigerian churches might cut ties with the Church of England if it did not revise its stance on homosexuality, which accepts gay priests in same-sex partnerships. "As of now, we have not yet reached the point of schism, but there's a broken relationship," Archbishop Peter Akinola told reporters in the capital, Abuja. Akinola had already spoken out against a July 25 announcement from England's bishops that said gay priests who register same-sex partnerships under a new civil law will remain in good standing as long as they promise to remain celibate. Akinola said Thursday that there was still hope to recover church unity if churches that have adopted liberal lines on homosexuality showed "repentance." With 17.5 million Anglicans, Nigeria has a strong voice in the 77 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion. The Nigerian Anglican Church has taken a lead role in opposing any church acceptance of homosexuality, through the Global South grouping of churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Nigerian and Ugandan churches, led by outspoken traditionalists, severed ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church over its 2003 consecration of a gay bishop living with a partner. It has also ended its relationship with Canada's Anglican Church over its blessing of same-sex marriages. The dispute over homosexuality in England has deepened divisions. Since Nigeria has already cut ties with the Anglican Church in the United States over homosexuality, "why should England be spared?" said Akinola. "What's good for the geese is good for the gander." Despite his warnings, Akinola said he still considers the Church of England the mother church of Anglicanism. Akinola said he has agreed to discuss differences with Church of England officials at a meeting of conservative Anglican churches in Cairo starting October 25. "At the end of the day these churches have the right to determine who their partners are," he said. Earlier this month Nigeria's Anglican Church deleted all references to the Church of Canterbury from its constitution, deepening the Anglican rift. Akinola said the amendments gave the Nigerian church the freedom to define its own partnerships with other Anglican churches. "After 160 years...now we are free, we should celebrate and rejoice," he said. (AP)