PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY BILL TO FORCE THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TO CONSECRATE WOMEN AS BISHOPS

"A group of influential MPs will tomorrow call for Parliament to intervene over the historic reform as fears grow that the Church will reject plans allowing female bishops.
The cross-party group, including former ministers Frank Field and Stephen Timms, and Simon Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, is concerned that the General Synod, the Church's parliament, may not pass legislation designed to end the glass ceiling for women clergy." Sunday Telegraph 30^th January 2011

Well, what a surprise! As Edwin Barnes comments on The Anglo Catholic Blog “If his Bill succeeds, it may show many at present holding back from the Ordinariate that the Church of England is indeed in thrall to the State” If Parliament passes this, one wonders what will be next; the compulsory marriage of Gays in Church of England churches?

Trust Christina Rees, previously Chair of WATCH, to welcome this move. (She)welcomed the MPs' support for women to be made bishops as soon as possible, but said she hoped the reform would be passed by the Church.

"I think the fact that Frank Field is putting down his motion shows a growing level of impatience for the Church of England to get on with passing legislation making it possible for women to be bishops.
"I think there's a certain amount of exasperation at the amount of time it's taking as we've been in this process for years."

"The Church has repeatedly made it clear it wants women bishops so it would be unthinkable if it were to fall at the last hurdle." (ibid)

At present the proposed legislation is doing the rounds of Diocesan Synods before it returns to General Synod for ratification. It is at that point that it could be defeated so aren’t Frank Field and the others jumping the gun? If MP Frank Field’s Bill is passed it will demonstrate once and for all that the Church of England is subject to the politically correct secular society.