Carey blames successor for 'strife' dividing Anglicans

Weeks after being urged to refrain from criticising Dr Rowan Williams, the former leader of the Church of the England has mounted a frontal assault on liberals he blames for dividing Anglicans. In a speech in the US reported by The Sunday Telegraph Lord Carey attacks those like Dr Williams who believe gay clergy should be accepted into the Church.

"[The Bible] is unequivocal in its condemnation of practising homosexuality. It cannot be dismissed as having no consequence today," he told the Virginia Theological Seminary. The endorsement by Dr Will-iams of civil partnerships was "a serious and extraordinary departure from the Church's practice".

In the clearest attack yet on his successor, Lord Carey said the Anglican communion has fallen apart since he retired four years ago.

"When I left office at the end of 2002 I felt the Anglican communion was in good heart. It is difficult to say in what way we are now a communion. Bitterness, hostility and strife now separate provinces from one another and divide individual provinces."

The speech follows an open letter sent to Lord Carey last month asking him to stop commenting on sensitive issues.