Episcopal Church becomes biggest US church to bless gay unions
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The U.S. Episcopal Church became the biggest church in the United States to approve a provisional rite for blessing gay unions after its House of Deputies gave its final approval Tuesday.
The resolution passed with 78 percent approval in the lay order and 76 percent in the clergy order. The House of Deputies is made up of both clergy and lay people.
In the lay order, 86 deputations voted in favor, 19 against; five were divided. In the clergy order, 85 deputations voted in favor, 22 opposed the resolution and four were divided.
The proposed blessing liturgy was initially approved by the Church’s House of Bishops Monday during the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis, with 111 votes in favor to 41 opposed and three abstentions.
Deputies of opposite views spoke in alternate succession Tuesday afternoon, with those against the proposal urging more time to consider a decision of such magnitude.
The Rev. Sharon Lewis, alternate deputy of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, said the liturgy is more than a “pastoral provision.”
“Let us move together in the heart of Christ, not turn this great big old church that I love so much on a dime,” Lewis said.
Speaking in favor of the blessings, Deputy Jenna Guy from Iowa said the resolution is important to the younger generation of Episcopalians, adding that passing the resolution would bring more people into the Church.
“It’s always with great pride that I tell [people] of the inclusive nature of this Church,” Guy said.
A deputy from Alaska added, “There is never anything wrong with celebrating love.”
The new Episcopal same-sex liturgy is called “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant.” [More]
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26 Comments
I believe in free speech but this blog is getting so nasty it’s hard to believe these are Christians sharing an opinion.
In our Father’s house there are mant mansions. There should be room in the Church for differing opinions and diologue but with mutual respect.
Eileen — well, I’m sure your comment was directed at me. Here’s the truth: I do NOT respect those who disagree with infallible Church teachings; to do so would be to consort with evil. Further, not only do I not respect terrorists, but I despise them — and poster Michael Joseph Francisconi, if it is the same person, supports terrorist Bill Ayers. Here’s the evidence: http://keywiki.org/index.php/Michael_Joseph_Francisconi
Thank you Eleen I “Apologize” if I offended you in any. Thanks again.
Terrorist — Do you also apologize to me and every other American for supporting a terrorist bent on the destruction of the country in which I and my family reside, pseudo-doctor?
In context, Bill Ayers, all charges were dropped he went to become a leader in Education creating something good in his later years aren’t to forgive.
Bill Ayers has never recanted his support for the Weather Underground — and that is current. If Ayers admits he was wrong and apologizes, then we can move forward.
The Wikipedia article on Ayers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers) reveals he is unrepentent: “Ayers was asked in a January 2004 interview, ‘How do you feel about what you did? Would you do it again under similar circumstances?’ He replied: ‘I’ve thought about this a lot. Being almost 60, it’s impossible to not have lots and lots of regrets about lots and lots of things, but the question of did we do something that was horrendous, awful? … I don’t think so. I think what we did was to respond to a situation that was unconscionable.’” So, again, when Ayers apologizes for his terrorism, we can go forward. No apology, we can’t move forward.
And, for anyone who supports an unrepentent terrorist, that makes them a terrorist. So if people like Eileen get upset with me for showing a man to be what he is, so be it. This is precisely why women can’t be in leadership roles: they want to make peace at the expense of genuine unity.
Jim, you are free to hate all you want. You are free to hate the gays. You are free to think that all women should not be in leadership roles, because you obviously do not think highly of them. You are free to go to bed every night blaming entire groups for your sad life. Have fun with your freedom.
Hey Katherine — you post illustrates exactly why women are not prepared to be leaders — you are irrational. Show me where I said I hate gays. Either show me or shut your mouth.
Further, Francisconi, it gives great scandal to the Catholic community for you to support such a man, especially if you hold yourself out as a Catholic.
BTW, doctor — the word “education” is not capitalized.
I will defend myself, my family, and my country against the likes of you, Francisconi.
What on Earth a terrorist is doing posting on a Catholic web site is beyond me.
There is no rooom in the Church for those who do not agree with its teachings. By definition, it is Francisconi himself, and other dissenters, who places himself outside the Church. God’s truths do not change to satsify the desires of the person (or at least, what the person falsely believes they desire); either the person accepts the truths of the Church, or they are de facto not a member. Again, the Church does not exclude them — they have excluded themselves.
And Eileen, I am not sharing opinions — I am simply stating what the Church teaches. There is a big difference between an opinion and the Magisterium. Occasionally I do offer my own opinions; e.g., I noted that I disagree with the bishops general support for ObamaCare. I will not trash someone for being in favor of ObamaCare; but I will object to someone who consistently tries to impose their own theology over Magisterial teachings.
This is from Archbishop Chaput’s homily August 02,2011: “Sin and failure, including by the clergy, need to be named. But when people deride their bishops and priests out of pride and resentment or some perverse desire for what they perceive as ‘power,’ they undermine the Church herself, and they set themselves against God whose vessel she is. And that, as Scripture suggests, leads in a painful direction.” Wow, I love Archbishop Chaput. I listen to him, not terrorist Francisconi, or false-peace maker Eileen, or (I won’t use an adjective here) Tony.
More from the Archbishop’s homily: “Miriam’s and Aaron’s criticism – which flows out of their own rebellious pride – is really a criticism of God himself. Miriam, as the instigator, is struck with leprosy, but at least there is a kind of negative dignity to her willfulness. Aaron is almost worse; a portrait of male spinelessness. This is the man who went along with the golden calf. Now he goes along with Miriam, and when Miriam is punished, he becomes obsequious with Moses.” Note the Archbishop’s citation of “male spinelessness.” Way too many men in the USA today have been feminized by the lesbian leaders of the anti-women’s movement. The Archbishop continued his homily: “Something similar can be said about conflicts in the modern Church. Bishops, priests and deacons are too often weak and sinful. They need to be held to high standards.” Indeed, too many priests are spineless, unwilling to say what needs to be said. Of course, you can see what happens when someone does say what needs to be said: they get labeled things such as “nasty,” as Eileen labeled me in her 2:59 P.M. post above.
Amen.
What a sad thing to say, only Homophobes are truly good people.
Michael J Francisconi supports terrorist Bill Ayers (and homosexuals in their sin). Here’s the evidential link: http://keywiki.org/index.php/Michael_Joseph_Francisconi
Try something new
Okay — I think you are a treaonist, and I wish you would leave America and go live with your Al-Quida brothers in the Middle East. We’d both be happier then, pseudo-doctor.
I track terrorist, Francisconi — and I’m going to continuously track you on this web site, letting others know who you are.
And BTW, terrorist Francisconi — I am not phobic of homosexuals. No, not phobic at all — but, I DO NOT LIKE THEM AND DO NOT LIKE WHAT THEY DO AND DO NOT LIKE HOW THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. Nor do I have to like them — we are commanded to love, not commanded to like. I’m sorry you’re so non-discriminating — but then again, you support Bill Ayers, so I’m not at all surprised, pseudo-doctor.
One more sign that the Catholic Church is the true Church, and the church started by Henry VIII is not the true church.