Canadian Anglican primate calls for unity

TORONTO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The head of the Canadian Anglican Church said efforts to split conservative members into another organization are "inappropriate, unwelcome and invalid."

Primate Fred Hiltz released a statement to be read Sunday in Canadian churches, The Toronto Star reported.

In the document, Hiltz "deplores" the invitation by Archbishop Gregory Venables to Canadian Anglicans who disagree with the church's position on homosexuality. Venables, a native of Britain, heads an archdiocese in six South American countries.

"We deplore recent actions on the part of the primate and general synod of the Province of the Southern Cone to extend its jurisdiction into Canada," Hiltz said.

Four regional archbishops also signed the statement.

Cheryl Chang, a lawyer for a conservative group, Anglican Essentials Canada, accused Hiltz of trying to "marginalize" those who oppose the church stance on homosexuality. Three Canadian dioceses recently approved the blessing of same-sex marriages.