Anglicans sanction US Episcopal Church over gay marriage

NEW YORK (AP) — Anglican leaders have temporarily suspended the U.S. Episcopal Church from key positions in their global fellowship because the church accepts gay marriage.

Episcopalians will be barred from international Anglican committees and from decision-making for the 85-million-member fellowship. The sanctions will be in place for three years.

The penalty was announced in England on Thursday amid a weeklong meeting of top Anglican leaders. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the U.S.

Episcopalians last year authorized gay marriage in their churches, more than a decade after electing the first openly gay bishop. The votes outraged Anglicans who are opposed to same-sex relationships and threatened to split the fellowship.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is the Anglican spiritual leader. He scheduled a news conference Friday in England to discuss the penalty.

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The Gayly - 1/14/2016 @ 1:39 p.m. CST