The four Catholic Archbishops of Ireland, including Cardinal Sean Brady, have criticised the decision.
The divisions are now so deep that nobody expects the archbishops will manage to agree a way forward.
BBC: Many Anglicans believe the Bible condemns homosexuality
The archbishops' office has previously said Dr Welby would not get involved in what was an internal diocese matter.
The archbishops' office said Dr Welby would not get involved because he believed it was an internal diocese matter.
It's worth remembering that in 1966 Pope Paul VI introduced a retirement age of 75 for bishops and archbishops.
WSJ: Andrew Nagorski: The Pope Who Made History in His Leaving
The Archbishops' Council said it was a chance to spread Christmas "good news".
On Thursday, more than 100 Ethiopian archbishops, priests, nuns and members of the Islamic Supreme Council turned out to welcome the Eritrean delegation.
BBC: Leaders at prayer in Asmara (pic: Jorge Aramburu/UNMEE)
Among the guests will be Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the prime minister, and archbishops and bishops from around the world.
But Polly Toynbee, president of the British Humanists' Association, insisted it was only right that the archbishops should be able to speak out.
But Apcims, the representative body of the stockbroking industry, said the archbishops were wrong to call for an outright, long-term ban on short-selling.
Asked about the archbishops' comments, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the BBC's Politics Show he believed in the separation of religion and politics.
Also, the state pays the salaries of all bishops and archbishops (though not priests) and some 75% of the teaching costs in church schools.
The archbishops who lead the church's 38 separate provinces are meeting in London to try to resolve their differences over gay and lesbian clergy.
BBC: Many Anglicans believe the Bible condemns homosexuality
The meeting is a gesture of reconciliation on both sides, as Catholic archbishops lived at the palace until England, under Henry VIII, broke with Rome.
In a letter being read in 2, 500 parish churches, the Roman Catholic church's two most senior archbishops say the change would reduce the significance of marriage.
More than 2, 000 cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests, as well as more than 10, 000 of the Roman Catholic faithful, joined the pope in celebrating Mass in St.
Mark Dowd, from the group Quest, which represents lesbian and gay Catholics, said the archbishops were out of touch as other countries had begun to make changes.
They contained some 1, 000 volumes, made up of 1, 400 publications, many from the collections of three 17th century archbishops of Canterbury - John Whitgift, Richard Bancroft and George Abbot.
The two archbishops of the church, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York, along with 24 other bishops, have seats in Parliament in the House of Lords.
They made the threat to leave in a letter to the archbishops of Canterbury and York, but critics said many of the signatories were retired rather than serving clergy.
The covenant was signed on behalf of the Church of England by Dr Williams, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, and the secretary general of the Archbishops' Council, William Fittall.
Why I'm so pleased is that of course I represent a world-wide Anglican Communion and Desmond Tutu one of our greatest Archbishops was so pivotal in bringing that to that conclusion.
That would provide the traditionalist alliance - with its ruling council of overseas archbishops - with a boost to its standing and influence in the "mother" Church of England it could barely have imagined a week ago.
The Tradescants are buried in an ornate tomb outside St Mary's Church, beneath the walls of Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishops of Canterbury. (Next to them lies Captain Bligh of the Bounty.) In the early 1970s, when the Nicholsons made a pilgrimage to the Tradescant tomb, they were horrified to find it in poor shape and the church destined for demolition.
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