Two senior Anglican bishops are facing legal actions from their own church in the US.

In Pennsylvania, the liberal diocesan bishop Charles Bennison has been suspended by the Primate, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, while accusations that he concealed a relative’s abuse of a teenage girl are investigated.

And in Pittsburgh, the conservative diocesan bishop Bob Duncan has been warned that he could face disciplinary procedures under Canon Law over proposals that his diocese seccede from the wider pro-gay Episcopal Church.

Both actions have stunned Episcopalians, who have been left in no doubt that their leader, a formidable woman who was formerly a marine biologist, is determined to take whatever steps necessary, both to stamp out abuse and also to maintain unity.

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BACKGROUND

• Gay weddings flourish in a religious stronghold

• Pope to discuss influx of Anglicans

• US Church pledges not to consecrate gay bishops

• Bishop defects to Catholic Church in gay row

BACKGROUND

• Pro-gay agenda pushes Church closer to schism

• Archbishop of Canterbury's 'secret gay communion'

• Archbishop faces clash over gay marriages of 50 priests

Related Links

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The Bishop of Pennsylvania is accused of concealing a close relative’s sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl in the 1973.

Bishop Jefferts Schori told Bishop Bennison this week that he was to cease all episcopal, ministerial and canonical acts. The ban comes into effect on tomorrow night, meaning he can lead his diocesan convention on Saturday.

According to the church indictment, Bennison reacted “passively and self-protectively” and “failed to take obvious, essential steps to investigate (the relative’s) actions, protect the girl from further abuse, and find out whether other children were in danger.”

A church court will hear the charges next year.

In Pittsburgh, the diocese has been debating constitutional changes that could begin the process of formal schism from The Episcopal Church. If the diocese goes down this path, legal action could be taken against the Bishop Duncan which could see him deposed and declared to have abandoned communion from The Episcopal Church.

Pittsburgh is one of at least four dioceses out of 110 taking steps to re-align under the leadership of another Primate, possibly from Africa. The others are Fort Worth in Texas, Quincy in Illinois and San Joaquin, California.

Fort Worth will consider similar proposals next month.