World

Anglican Leader To Retire

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 8, 2002 / 8:21 AM EST / CBS

The Archbishop of Canterbury announced his retirement Tuesday after more than a decade as the spiritual leader of the world's 70 million Anglicans.

George Carey, 66, said he would retire Oct. 31.

Carey has presided over the Church of England during a difficult decade, when it battled over the ordination of women and moves to establish closer ties with other Christian denominations. He tried to end infighting and restore the appeal of a church that has seen its following plummet in recent decades.

The Anglican family is a broad but quarrelsome church that ranges from England to Canada, from Australia to Africa. It includes 2.5 million Episcopalians in the United States.

"By the end of October, I shall have served 11 and half years in a demanding yet wonderfully absorbing and rewarding post," Carey said. "I feel certain this will be the right and proper time to stand down. I look forward to exciting opportunities and challenges in the coming months, and then to fresh ones in the years that follow."

Under Carey's tenure, the Church of England ordained its first women ministers — to the wrath of traditionalists — grappled with the sensitive issue of homosexuality and faced a dire financial crisis over its investments.

The number of regular worshippers dropped by nearly a quarter during his 11-year tenure although many did return in search of comfort following the September 11 suicide airliner attacks on Washington and New York.

About half a dozen bishops are considered candidates to replace Carey. The Crown Appointments Commission, a 16-member body made up of bishops and church officials, will hold a series of meetings to decide on two names to recommend to Prime Minister Tony Blair. His choice will then formally be ratified by Queen Elizabeth II.

Carey, the son of a hospital porter, is the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury. He is spiritual leader of a church that is active in countries around the globe, including Australia, India, several African nations, the Middle East, the United States and Japan.

Rumors of Carey's retirement had been circulating for days and speculation in the British media about his possible successor also has been intense.

Leading candidates include the Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, 52, the bishop of Rochester east of London, who was born in Pakistan and is a respected authority on Christian-Muslim relations and church history.

He's consider the liberals' darling and an ally of heir to the throne Prince Charles.

Bookmakers William Hill speedily installed him as 3-1 favorite in what they called "the Canterbury Stakes." The chances of a woman archbishop were put at 1,000-1.

Another leading contender, at odds of 7-2, is the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Rowan Williams, a former Oxford University don and renowned theologian. Liberals love him, but his radical views — he sympathizes with homosexual clergy — could bar his progress.

The traditionalist wing could be represented by Bishoof London Richard Chartres, who has close ties with Prince Charles.

The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, praised Carey's "immense integrity, zeal and courage."

"I am sure there will be very many, like myself, who will express their appreciation of his considerable achievements in a most demanding role and who will miss him when he steps down as archbishop," he said.