Sunday, December 22, 2013

Episcopal Church in Utah Welcomes Gay Marriage Ruling

Bishop Scott Hayashi
Too often the "good Christians" remain silent and allow evil to be done by the far right, hate filled elements and anti-gay Christian denominations.  In the wake of the federal court ruling in Utah that struck downs bans on gay marriage that stem solely from anti-gay animus and religious based bigotry, the Episcopal Church in Utah spoke out in support of the District Court's ruling.   Would that more denominations had the spine to do so.  Here are details from Gay Star News:



The Episcopal Church in Utah has welcomed the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state by a Federal Court judge, with the state’s bishop releasing a statement celebrating that gay and lesbian Utahans will be treated with the same dignity as other Utahans.

‘As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I rejoice that US District Judge Robert J Shelby has struck down Utah’s Amendment 3,’ Bishop Scott Hayashi said of the ruling.

‘All people should have the right to due process and equal protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment. Gay and lesbian people are human beings with hopes, dreams, and the need for love. I celebrate that now they will have access to the same fulfillment enjoyed by heterosexual people. They are people made in the image of God.’

The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution forbids states from denying any person their life, liberty or property without a due process of law and was intended to protect the civil rights of all Americans regardless of their race or gender.

Hayashi also acknowledged that the legalization of same-sex marriage would be troubling for those religious people who disagreed with the concept.
‘We are one people,’ Hayashi said, ‘We are one state.’
‘We can and must work to make Utah into the place where all people are treated with respect and dignity, and where God is seen in the face of each and every person. As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I will continue to welcome all people into The Episcopal Church.’
The office of Utah’s Attorney General has said it will appeal the ruling however it seems unlikely that the US Supreme Court would overturn the ruling considering that it struck down the Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage in California.
The Episcopal Church has approved a liturgy for blessing same-sex couples but it is not the same text it uses to join heterosexual couples in religious marriage and it is up to individual bishops whether it can be used in their bishoprics.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/utah-episcopal-church-welcomes-legalization-same-sex-marriage221213#sthash.gkS5OuLg.dpuf


‘We are one people,’ Hayashi said, ‘We are one state.’

‘We can and must work to make Utah into the place where all people are treated with respect and dignity, and where God is seen in the face of each and every person. As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I will continue to welcome all people into The Episcopal Church.’

The office of Utah’s Attorney General has said it will appeal the ruling however it seems unlikely that the US Supreme Court would overturn the ruling considering that it struck down the Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage in California.

The Episcopal Church has approved a liturgy for blessing same-sex couples but it is not the same text it uses to join heterosexual couples in religious marriage and it is up to individual bishops whether it can be used in their bishoprics.
Kudos to bishop Hayashi!  Obviously, the Episcopal Church's treatment of gays is diametrically opposite of that of the always hate filled, smug and self-congratulatory denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Roman Catholic Church (Pope Francis has said nice words but nothing has really changed).
 

The Episcopal Church in Utah has welcomed the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state by a Federal Court judge, with the state’s bishop releasing a statement celebrating that gay and lesbian Utahans will be treated with the same dignity as other Utahans.
‘As the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, I rejoice that US District Judge Robert J Shelby has struck down Utah’s Amendment 3,’ Bishop Scott Hayashi said of the ruling.
‘All people should have the right to due process and equal protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment. Gay and lesbian people are human beings with hopes, dreams, and the need for love. I celebrate that now they will have access to the same fulfillment enjoyed by heterosexual people. They are people made in the image of God.’
The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution forbids states from denying any person their life, liberty or property without a due process of law and was intended to protect the civil rights of all Americans regardless of their race or gender.
Hayashi also acknowledged that the legalization of same-sex marriage would be troubling for those religious people who disagreed with the concept.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/utah-episcopal-church-welcomes-legalization-same-sex-marriage221213#sthash.gkS5OuLg.dpuf

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