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A milder view than the one leaked to the Times appeared in the News Telegraph. Their religion correspondent, Jonathan Petre, stated on September 3: "Liberal American bishops face having their invitations to Anglican summits withdrawn by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, if they continue to defy the worldwide Church over homosexuality." "Under tough proposals likely to be recommended by the Lambeth Commission next month, the liberal leadership of the American Episcopal Church could be excluded from policy making and shunned by the vast majority of Anglicans. Bishops who publicly support the consecration of Canon Gene Robinson as Anglicanism's first actively gay bishop last year or who authorise gay 'marriages', both of which breach official Anglican policy, would be penalised." "They would only be readmitted to the councils of the worldwide Church if they reversed their position and repented." "In its final report, which is due to be published in October, the commission is expected to resist calls from hardline conservatives to expel the Episcopal Church immediately." |