Mr. O'REILLY: Yes indeed. Conservatives say that Scripture is absolutely condemning of homosexual behavior and that there's no room to budge. Liberals, on the other hand, say that there's a modern understanding of homosexuality that's required -- modern understandings of psychology and biology that demand a more tolerant and understanding position toward homosexuality.

ABERNETHY: And at the convention there's not only this issue about the bishop in New Hampshire, but there's another gay issue coming up too, isn't there?

Mr. O'REILLY: That's right. There's a proposal to write and allow a blessing, a formal rite of blessing for same-sex unions, and that's really gotten conservatives outraged.

ABERNETHY: David, is there talk of individual people, perhaps whole parishes leaving the Episcopal Church as a result of this?

Mr. O'REILLY: Yeah. We're hearing the word "crisis." We're even hearing the word "schism" these days. Bishops are threatening to leave. Parishes are threatening to leave. And I think if they don't get satisfaction -- if the conservatives don't get satisfaction at this convention -- we may be seeing some movement.

ABERNETHY: The U.S. Church is part of the whole Anglican Communion -- 77 million people around the world. What effects does that have on the decisions at the General Convention?

Mr. O'REILLY: It's a pressure. No one has legal jurisdiction over the Church here. But, Anglican primates, the leaders of whole national Anglican churches are furious, and they're putting pressure on this convention. They just don't want to see this kind of tolerance allowed in the United States.

ABERNETHY: David O'Reilly of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Many thanks.