Archbishop dismisses reports of Anglican primates’ meeting

The Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Richard Clarke has dismissed some reports on the outcome of a meeting of Anglican Communion of Primates at Canterbury last week as a "cynical manipulation" of the facts.

A communique at the end of the meeting announced that, for a period of three years, the US Episcopal church would “no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee, and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity”.

Same-sex marriage

This followed a decision of the Episcopal church to allow same-sex marriage.

The 38 primates said it was “a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our provinces on the doctrine of marriage”.

Archbishop Clarke said some reports used such words as “sanctions” and “censures” which, he continued “were never actually used, let alone were part of the final communique”.