An Anglican bishop will issue new licences to all the clergy in his diocese--an "unprecedented" move that appears to be a pre-emptive attack on any priests who may be thinking of joining a breakaway faction that opposes same-sex blessings.

Cyrus Pitman, the Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (right), sent a letter on Dec. 18 to all clergy demanding they attend a service on Jan. 21 in which they would all have to renew their vows and also have their Church licences reissued.

The situation is especially charged because Bishop Pitman's predecessor, Donald Harvey, who retired more than three years ago, formally left the Anglican Church of Canada in the fall to lead a new Canadian church that reports to a conservative bishop in South America.

But on Jan. 9 Bishop Harvey said that not a single Newfoundland priest has approached the new Church about defecting and Bishop Pitman is questioning the loyalty of those who have yet to show disloyalty.

"It looks like he's trapped and lashing out in all directions," Bishop Harvey said. "He's certainly trying to exert supreme control."

Bishop Pitman was not available for comment yesterday and calls to individual parishes were referred to the Bishop's office.

Though the renewal of vows is not unusual in the Anglican Church--in some dioceses, it is done regularly during Easter week--the renewing of licences is. In some dioceses, licences will be renewed when a new bishop takes over, but Bishop Pitman has already been in office for three years.

Bishop Harvey said that during his 11 years as head of the diocese he never required that licences be renewed, nor did he make attendance at the renewal-of-vows ceremony mandatory.

"It's extremely odd and I don't think it was well thought out," Bishop Harvey said. "It's without precedent where a whole diocese had their licences cancelled and new ones issued. The only reason for the new licences is to have the signature of the new bishop on it [instead of mine]."

Bishop Harvey said the new Church, which for now is being called the Anglican Network of Canada, will soon do a cross-country tour of parishes - but they have not been invited by any Newfoundland parish.

Bishop Pitman's letter makes specific mention of Bishop Harvey's decision to leave the Canadian Church.

"His decision to renounce his licence rather than to seek a transfer to another province has implications for this Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, for the Anglican Church of Canada, and possibly for the wider Anglican Communion."

Paul Feheley, the principal secretary to Fred Hiltz, the head of the Anglican Church of Canada, said Bishop Pitman's decision to make clergy renew their licences seems consistent with the present situation in the Church and would remove any ambiguity in terms of allegiance.

However, an expert in Church law said Bishop Harvey's current status makes no difference. He said priests swear allegiance to the office, not the person.

"Any act that has been performed by the bishop while he was the bishop in good standing would continue in its validity," said Alan Perry, a priest at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Montreal. "So that would include ordinations, licensing, confirmations, all of that stuff. Any licence that Harvey signed he did in his capacity as Bishop, not as an individual, and remains valid."

The letter from Bishop Pitman also said all priests carrying the title "canon" would lose that status and said he would appoint new canons at some point. Canons usually form an unofficial advisory council to the Bishop. Bishop Harvey said that in Newfoundland the honorary title was always for life and the title was only revoked if the priest did something to dishonour his position. He said he appointed almost all of the current canons.

This article first appeared in the National Post and is reprinted with permission.