The Church of England yesterday refused to confirm or deny a report that senior bishops had held secret talks with Vatican officials over the crisis in the Anglican Communion.

MARTHA LINDEN

The Church of England yesterday refused to confirm or deny a report that senior bishops had held secret talks with Vatican officials over the crisis in the Anglican Communion.

The Church of England bishops met senior advisers of Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the issue of homosexual priests and women bishops, a Sunday newspaper reported.

The news of the meeting comes ahead of a crucial vote today at the General Synod, the Church of England's ruling body, on how far to accommodate parishes and clergy who oppose women bishops.

A Church of England spokesman said: "This is one of a plethora of stories on the internet and in print ahead of Monday's debate, and it will be down to General Synod to determine the way ahead on this issue."

The group of conservative bishops are said to have expressed dismay at the liberal direction of the Church of England and their fears for its future.

It was said that they met members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which was headed by the Pope before he was elected Pontiff in 2005.

It was reported that the meeting was part of an attempt to build closer ties with the Roman Catholic Church, and that the Archbishop of Canterbury was not told of the talks.

Up to 600 clergy have written to Dr Williams warning that they might leave the Church if safeguards such as dioceses for opponents of women bishops are not established.

It was reported that in a separate development, three diocesan bishops of the Church of England have written to Dr Williams supporting the threat and another has said he is preparing to leave the Church.

The letter from the Bishops of Chichester, Blackburn and Europe, allegedly argues that traditionalist clergy will not be able to "maintain an honoured place" in the Church without sufficient legislation.

The reports come after the creation of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a worldwide network opposed to liberalisation of Church teaching on issues such as homosexuality.

The Lambeth Conference, the 10-yearly meeting of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, is also due to meet later this month in Canterbury, Kent.