Bishop of Sheffield: Martyn Percy asked for bread; Sentamu and Welby give a stone
by Archbishop Cranmer:
No doubt there has been a lot of frantic to-ing and fro-ing between the palaces of Bishopthorpe and Lambeth since Philip North felt unable to take up the nomination as Bishop of Sheffield. People have been waiting expectantly for a robust archiepiscopal response to those who hounded him out, and a persuasive theological defence of the continuing appointment of traditionalist bishops to Anglican sees, especially in those where a significant number of clergy are female. But the matter of Philip North is a matter for ‘up north’: Sheffield is under the jurisdiction of Archbishop John Sentamu in the ecclesiastical province of York; it is not for the Archbishop of Canterbury to wade in precipitately, however passionately he might feel about a matter. Even as principal leader of the Church of England, if Justin Welby wants to say something about Philip North or anything else ‘up north’, then protocol and courtesy demand diplomatic coordination so that any statement may be jointly issued to ensure metropolitan unity. We can’t have Canterbury at loggerheads with York (at least not publicly).
It has been a while in coming, but the Archbishops have now issued their joint statement:
[…]
So their response has been to pass the buck.
Some might say sidestep, cop out or fence-sit.
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