Eames delivers church report

Gene Robinson became the ninth Bishop of New Hampshire

Lord Eames has delivered a controversial new report over homosexuality in the Anglican Church.

It has urged US church leaders to apologise for ordaining a gay priest as bishop.

The call was made by the Lambeth Commission, set up after the ordination of Gene Robinson threatened to split the worldwide Anglican church.

Dr Eames, the Church of Ireland Primate, was appointed to chair a commission established after the first openly gay Anglican bishop - Reverend Robinson - was ordained in the US.

The report also called for a moratorium on the consecration of gay candidates.

It demanded an explanation from the Anglican church in the US, known as Episcopalian, about "how a person living in a same gender union may be considered eligible to lead the flock of Christ".

Scripture must be used to back up the explanation, it added.

Many conservative clergy believe the Bible explicitly condemns homosexuality, and African church leaders have also argued it is a strong cultural taboo in many areas on the continent.

Since the 1970s, controversies over issues of human sexuality have become increasingly divisive and destructive throughout Christendom Lord Eames Church of Ireland primate

However, the report urged all members of the church to work together, while acknowledging that serious divisions exist.

Dr Eames said: "There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together."

He insisted Monday's report was not a judgment but part of an ongoing process.

"It is part of a pilgrimage towards healing and reconciliation."

Dr Eames said: "Since the 1970s, controversies over issues of human sexuality have become increasingly divisive and destructive throughout Christendom."

He said the ordination of Canon Robinson and the blessing of same-sex unions in Canada had uncovered "major divisions throughout the Anglican Communion".

"There has been talk of crisis, schism and realignment. Voices and declarations have portrayed a communion in crisis."

The issue had raised "a degree of harshness and a lack of charity which is new to Anglicanism".

The row over Gene Robinson eventually reached the UK when Dr Jeffrey John, a gay but celibate clergyman, was nominated as Bishop of Reading.

The split resulted in Dr John withdrawing his acceptance of the post and becoming the Dean of St Albans instead.

The Eames Commission was set up last year to tackle the crisis of unification among the 70 million members of Anglican Communion around the world.