Homosexuality obstacle to unity - Pope

"New and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity", Pope John Paul II warned Dr Rowan Williams, the recently installed 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, president of the 80 million-strong Anglican Communion, during a formal audience at the Vatican yesterday.

The Pope's warning referred to the crisis arising in the Anglican Communion about homosexuality. First, the recent endorsement by the Convention of the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church of the election as bishop by the New Hampshire diocese of Gene Robinson, a divorce in a long-standing, much publicised gay partnership. Second, the blessing of same-sex unions by a Canadian diocese.

Both events are contrary to the beliefs and practice of the Anglican Communion, most recently expressed by the 1998 Lambeth conference of bishops. Faced with threats of secession by several African and Asian Anglican churches from the Communion, Dr Williams has convened an emergency meeting of the Communion's 38 primates on October 15-16.

The Pope's statement said that "these difficulties are not all of a merely disciplinary nature, so extend to essential matters of faith and morals... we must reaffirm our obligation to listen attentively and honestly to the voice of Christ as it comes to us through the Gospel and the Church's Apostolic Tradition."

But he added that Roman Catholics and Anglicans must persevere in the search for unity.

At a subsequent press conference at the English Catholic seminary, Dr Williams sidestepped questions about the Pope's failing health. He described the audience as "a deeply moving occasion" and praised the Pope's "extraordinary indomitable spirit and will, his immense power and strength in his struggle against ill health".

The Archbishop emphasised that the views of the Catholic Church on homosexuality and the 'ecumenical impact' would weigh very heavily in the forthcoming Primates' meeting.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, told the press that the Archbishop "knows our deep concern, and that depending on how the present situation is resolved, these decisions could cause new problems for our relations.

"Until recently one could state with relative confidence that Catholics and Anglicans shared the same moral principles regarding human sexuality. We hope that it will remain so, for the world today needs our common witness".

In addition to wide ranging talks with a number of Pontifical Councils, the Archbishop also visited the San Egidio and Focolare communities, "an immensely inspiring experience showing that we can grow together in prayer, even if we cannot yet share in sacramental communion".

Dr Williams led an ecumenical evensong at St Maria sopra Minerva to mark the feast of St Francis yesterday, attended by senior Catholic prelates and ministers of other churches.

"Our dialogue can only be maintained if we continue in the conviction that we belong together and must overcome the scandal of our separation. I look forward to theological convergence, a sharing of tasks, and our continued journey towards unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity".