Agree to disagree.

Dear editor,

Re: Inaction "exacerbates" church crisis (December, 2005), the "inaction" or the "slow and inadequate response" of those charged with implementing the recommendations of the Windsor Report is not what "exacerbates" the church crisis. It is rather the constant attempts of some Anglican provinces to force the Canadian and American churches to renounce actions taken in total conformity with their canons and without violating any binding agreements, undertakings or commitments made to other provinces--with our resignation from the Communion as the suggested alternative.

Archbishops Peter Carnley and Rowan Williams were quite right to point out that they could not intervene. I would suggest that no province, nor even the Archbishop of Canterbury, has the right to declare any other province out of communion with Canterbury. It may only declare itself and its declaration is not binding on the other party or any other province. Hopefully, whatever chaos may follow will be temporary, since the lines of communication will remain open and the "exacerbation" may be eventually healed. Meanwhile, we Canadians and Americans must continue to regard ourselves as in communion with all Anglican provinces and agree to disagree until we can reconcile our views to the greatest degree possible for us. We can then decide if we must leave the Anglican Communion.

Robert T. Coolidge

Westmount, Que.