Church of England considers women bishops

YORK, England, July 11 (UPI) -- The Church of England is moving closer to allowing women to become bishops.

The church's governing General Synod voted Monday to begin "the process to remove obstacles to the ordination of women," despite opposition from traditionalists threatening to become Roman Catholic.

Fourteen of the world's 38 Anglican Churches already allow women bishops. The Church of England has had women priests for more than a decade and women now make up half of those training as Anglican clergy, the BBC reported.

Around 400 Anglican clergy became Roman Catholics when women were first ordained as priests in 1994.