Tutu appeals for Anglican unity as gay bishop shut out

LONDON (AFP) — Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Sunday pleaded for unity in the worldwide Anglican Communion as its first openly gay bishop said it was a "mistake" to bar him from their 10-yearly conference.

Due to begin Tuesday, the Lambeth Conference meeting of Anglican bishops, being held in Canterbury, southeast England, comes amid heightened wrangling over issues of homosexual and female clergy.

South African 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner Tutu, 76, said he felt the church should move together on the topic of homosexuality.

"The Anglican church prides itself -- and this is one of its greatest attributes -- it prides itself on being the church that is comprehensive, meaning that it includes all kinds of points of view," he told Sky News television.

"One of the sadnesses about the current crisis is that we seem to be jettisoning this wonderful inclusivity that is a characteristic of our church."

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