[AussiePam]

The Australian Anglican scene is peculiar. The Diocese of Sydney - and the head of the Anglican church in Australia - is quite different from the Anglican church in pretty much all the rest of the country. It's Evangelical with a capital E, narrow, conservative and tends towards Methodism. It is totally anti women, gays etc. The Canberra (capital of Australia) is much more liberal, has women priests, will predicably have a female bishop soon (there is one in Perth, Western Australia) and is much closer to Catholicism. Bells and smells, Mass, dressing up, priests, confession etc. In Sydney it's parsons, long sermons, and dark suits with dog collars. I don't think we have openly gay clergy anywhere. BUT a bit of the most Catholic wing has joined with the most Evangelical wing in solidarity over the abomination of women who want to do more than teach Sunday school.

As an ordinary bad Anglican Catholic - I really don't care about all these politicians posturing and legislating. It is my opinion that the Church government long ago became an end in itself. Structure is necessary, but it isn't what Christianity is about. My Parish in Canberra has a senior female priest in charge, a doctor of theology and a canon. She is an inspiration. But I've had great male priests too. I really don't care. Wouldn't mind a gay one either, per se.