Episcopal clergy
sign antigay petition calling for repentance

With the clock ticking before the Episcopal Church's triennial convention, 900 clergy members have signed a petition urging bishops to "repent" for the church's liberal view of homosexuality. The Religion News Service reports that the petition will be presented to the Episcopal house of bishops before the convention, which is set to begin on June 13. The petition asks the Episcopal Church to "fully endorse" a report calling on U.S. bishops to express regret for electing openly gay Gene Robinson as bishop and to issue a moratorium on blessing same-sex unions and ordaining any more gay clergy. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, which may be on the verge of a schism over the homosexuality debate. The spiritual head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has said that if the Episcopal Church agrees to "repent" for its past behavior, he thinks the "fragile unity" within the worldwide Anglican faith can hold up. (Sirius OutQ News)