20 Episcopal priests defrocked in Va.

An Episcopal bishop in Virginia has defrocked 20 priests he said "abandoned the communion" of the church, the Washington Times reported Friday. Bishop Peter J. Lee ousted the former clergy earlier this week after they quit the denomination in December in protest of the 2003 consecration of openly gay, New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.
Lee signed documents Wednesday defrocking the priests months after 11 churches and their clergy agreed to leave the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the denomination. The bishop issued an "inhibition" order in January forbidding the clergy affiliated with these churches from functioning in his diocese as Episcopal priests. He also gave them six months to change their minds. See 20 Episcopal priests defrocked in Va. United Press International