What happened

Theological conservatives who oppose liberal moves by the Episcopal Church formed a rival North American province of the Anglican Communion on Wednesday. (AP in the Kansas City Star)

What the commentators said

This split marks the biggest challenge yet for Episcopalians, said Laurie Goodstein in The New York Times. But they've been torn apart since the ordination of the first openly gay Episcopalian bishop five years ago. So it's hardly a surprise that conservatives have broken away.

Of course the liberal Times would blame conservatives for the split, said Merv Benson in PrairiePundit. But "if the liberals had not taken actions that ignore over 2000 years of history and church doctrine, the split would not be happening."

No wonder the Episcopal Church is losing money and members, said David Virtue in Catholic Online. "The decline indicates that theological liberalism is a cancer that is eating away at the Episcopal body politic and that no amount of money will ultimately keep it together."

Actually, Episcopalians will be better off when the conservative renegades form their "own homophobic nest of worship," said Michelangelo Signorile, who hosts a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio. So, to all you people angry about the church's increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians: "Don't slam the door on the way out."