No Joking Around

Thanks to William Tighe, who wonders if the following is an April Fool's Joke.

01 April 2008, 16:19
The Anglican Church to face a new clerical reform

London, April 1, Interfax – Certain Anglican Commonwealth churches will simplify rules of ordaining clerics next year.

“Realities of today’s life require revision of certain canons and rules. We have agreed to women clergy and ordination of open gays, but we shouldn’t stop on the achieved,” the Rev Anthony Priddis, the Bishop of Hereford said in his interview to the Monday Telegraph.

Three years ago he gained popularity for supporting a woman-priest who had changed sex.

According to Priddis, next year not only Christians would be able to become Anglican priests.

“When you a person is hired, especially to a British state religious organization he shouldn’t be discriminated for his confession. The Anglican Church should give an example of fighting against xenophobia in our multicultural tolerant society and give equal opportunities to all people no matter if they believe in God, gods or any other power,” the bishop stressed.

Priddis has not excluded the possibility of future ordaining atheists in the Anglican Church, the weekly reports.

It certainly has the appearance of an April Fool's joke but it is difficult to tell for sure. These days (as Christopher Johnson will surely attest) everyday is April Fool's Day in the Anglican Church.