´óÏó´«Ã½

This story just runs and runs and runs. Now the American Episcopal Church's diocese of Newark, in New Jersey, has named an openly gay priest on its . Canon Michael Barlowe is currently a development officer working for the diocese of Caolifornia. Previously he was Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa.

His biographical sketch on the Newark website reads:

Before ordination, I worked on Wall Street at Chase Manhattan Bank. Paul Burrows has been my partner for 24 years. Paul is Rector of Church of the Advent in San Francisco, a spiritual director, Benedictine oblate, and naturalized U.S. citizen.

Being shortlisted for bishop is a step or two away from being elected, but Canon Barlowe's inclusion on the shortlist comes just days after the Episcopal Church's General Convention voted to 'call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.'

By any standards, this is a feisty response from Newark. The spirit of American Independence is alive and well and living in New Jersey.