Pope chastises Anglican leader.

POPE JOHN PAUL II BROUGHT attention to the divisions between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches over the ordination of homosexual clergy during a brief meeting with the head of the Anglican church, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams. "As we give thanks for the progress that has already been made," the pope said, "we must also recognize that new and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity. These difficulties are not all of a merely disciplinary nature; some extend to essential matters of faith and morals."

The Anglican church is itself split over the recent ordination of a gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. He said he would do everything he could to help to heal any rift but he did not think that his appointment would make a big difference to ordinary Christians around the world. The Ugandan church subsequently split with Canterbury over the issue.