Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Breakaway Priest Approves Abortion

Father George A. Stallings Jr. declared that his congregation, in “taking control of its own destiny” by breaking ties with the Roman Catholic Church, would encourage the ordination of women and allow birth control and abortion. Stallings said the departure from Vatican authority would allow his congregation to set in place “its own discipline and laws, which will govern our activities.” Stallings last summer formed the Imani Temple, an independent African-American Catholic congregation in Washington, D.C. He announced his decision to break all ties with the Vatican last week.