Anglican Communion News Service

[ACNS source: The Convocation of American Churches in Europe] The Rt Revd Pierre W. Whalon, Bishop-in-charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, says that the situation of the four Anglican jurisdictions in Europe provides no model for parallel jurisdictions. "I am quite disturbed," said the bishop, "to hear over and over that we have a model for parallel jurisdictions that could help solve the present crisis in the Episcopal Church. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Writing in his regular column in this week's Anglicans Online, Bishop Whalon explains the convoluted situation in Europe, with its two geographical dioceses and two essentially non-geographical jurisdictions. He then discusses existing parallel jurisdictions as "the institutionalization of schisms".

"Schism is so much worse than heresy," the bishop remarked about his article, echoing his very first Anglicans Online column published four years ago. "Heresy eventually burns itself out, because it is wrong, or else its kernel of truth gets incorporated into the Church's self-understanding. Schism, however, lasts for centuries and is very difficult to reverse. Schism has never resolved a conflict. It is moreover utter disobedience of our Lord, who commands us without exception to 'love one another as he has loved us.'"