Episcopal Press and News

Carey Retracts Use of 'Heresy' for Opponents of Ordination of Women

Episcopal News Service. March 21, 1991 [91071]

Bishop George Carey, who will be enthroned as the archbishop of Canterbury on April 19, retracted his use of the term "heresy" for those opposing the ordination of women.

During an interview to be published in the British edition of Reader's Digest, Carey said that he "wanted to make the point that to insist upon maleness as an essential attribute of priesthood is, I believe, to commit the fundamental error of making the maleness of Christ more significant than his humanity. It is as human, rather than exclusively as male, that he identifies with and saves both men and women." In seeking to express this view, Carey said that he "spoke of heresy rather than theological error, and thereby unintentionally caused offence."

Carey added that he has "never doubted the integrity of those who are opposed to the ordination of women to the priesthood" and expressed hopes that "the integrity of both sides will be respected as the debate in the Church of England on this issue continues." He has predicted that it is only a matter of time until the church ordains women to the priesthood.

Those opposing the ordination of women seemed somewhat mollified by the retraction but said it would take some time to undo the damage of the original statement. "He [Carey] has made every effort he can to defuse the situation, but I think a lot of people have been hurt," said the Rev. Geoffrey Kirk, secretary of Cost of Conscience, an organization opposing women's ordination.

Archdeacon of York George Austin, however, said "it is a generous retraction which goes as far as he [Carey] could be possibly expected to go."