A regional priest is questioning whether it's time for the Anglican Church to split, as debate on the Religious Freedom Bill leaves some of his parishioners feeling anxious over the Christmas period.
He later clarified his comments, saying he was addressing bishops and those wanting to change the doctrine of the Church."All I have said is that the doctrine of our Church expresses the teaching of Jesus, his love and his discipline.
"All are welcome to Anglican churches at Christmas and at any time, so they may all hear the welcome of Jesus himself." The Wangaratta Diocese decision was also heavily criticised by conservative lobby group GAFCON, which formed in 2008 to respond to what it claimed was a,"moral compromise, doctrinal error and the collapse of biblical witness" in parts of the Anglican communion.
In a video, posted to the GAFCON Australia Facebook page in September, Archbishop Davies — who is also the deputy chair of GAFCON — labelled theas"sinful", and described the move to support same-sex blessings as"disturbing". Father Macleod-Miller said he was worried this type of language and attitudes could be emboldened by the Federal Government's Religious Freedom Bill, despite being made in good faith, and could cause serious harm to vulnerable minorities, like his LGBTQI+ parishioners.GAFCON Australia chair Bishop of Tasmania Richard Candie declined to comment on GAFCON's view of the Religious Freedom Bill.
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