Australia’s Anglican Church consecrated the country’s first female bishop today in a ceremony attended by hundreds but opposed by at least one prominent church leader.

THE Catholic Church in Australia has offered condolences to the family of a former Limerick altar boy, now deceased, who alleged he was abused by an Irish priest who served in Sydney.

Australians call their nation God’s own country, but the outspoken Anglican Archbishop of Sydney said yesterday that Jesus and his family would probably not be allowed in now if they applied for asylum.

Anglican bishops joined calls for the Queen’s representative in Australia to resign today, only hours after prime minister John Howard met the monarch in London.