Archbishop Milingo has rejected his excommunication, and his challenge of the Vatican has raised fears of a possible schism in the church.

Likud, which held power for 15 years, now finds itself a dispirited and disoriented opposition party, one that its officials assume will endure debilitating internal arguments and possible schisms before its fortunes improve.

Fearing a possible schism, shortly before his death he recommended to the cardinals the election of Cardinal Bernard of Porto as his successor.

By contrast, its founder, the Rev. Helmut Schüller, blames "absolutist monarchy" and resistance to change by the Vatican for a possible schism.

Gene Robinson's election as bishop of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America prompted warnings of a possible schism in the Anglican Communion.

Conservatives here and abroad have warned that the Americans' decisions set the stage for possible schism in the worldwide communion.

Concerned about a possible schism in the party that could lead to a heated primary, split electorate, and weakened stance, high-ranking members of the party backed Gillibrand and requested major opponents to decline to run.

In October 2004, a committee appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, issued a report to head off a possible schism over the sexuality debate.

With several of the nation's largest unions threatening to quit the A.F.L.-C.I.O., Democratic leaders say they fear that the possible schism might hurt their party's chances by making labor a less potent political force.