Episcopal church leader refuses to retreat

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church says the church has no intention of rolling back its support for same-sex unions.

Speaking at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, the Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori said the Episcopal Church will not bow to the wishes of Anglican Communion leaders who are calling for a retreat on issues involving homosexuals, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.

The 77-million member body whose roots are in the Church of England set a deadline of Sept. 30 for its U.S. bishops to pledge they would not authorize rites for same-sex unions or approve gay clergy as bishops.

Jefferts Schiori said unequivocally there would be no "going backward."

"Jesus hung out with people on the margins," Jefferts Schori said. "He didn't spend a great deal of his time seeking to throw people out."

Jefferts Schiori isn't worried about what will happen if some U.S. churches or dioceses join with the conservatives.

"American Protestantism is characterized, unfortunately, by the desire to fracture," she says.