Dioceses In Canada, US Approve Same-Sex Blessings

Oh my God!! Peter Akinola, the bigoted Anglican Archbishop from Nigeria and US wingnuts, will probably either wet them self or have a stroke when they get this news being reported by 365gay.com (http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/102207anglican.htm). Funny how the "conservatives" can pick and choose what they like from the Bible except when it comes to gays. Here are a few story highlights:

(Montreal, Quebec) The Episcopal diocese of California and the Anglican diocese of Montreal have voted to allow priests to bless same-sex unions - moves likely to further infuriate conservatives within the worldwide Anglican Church. Elected representatives of the Episcopal Diocese of California meeting in San Francisco approved use of rites for the blessing of same gender couples by an overwhelming margin. The action opens the way for Diocesan Bishop Marc Andrus to allow these services to be used on a trial basis by Episcopal churches across the Bay Area.

Clergy and lay delegates also approved by a broad majority a resolution affirming "the unanimous decision of the (Diocesan) Standing Committee to refuse to discriminate against partnered gay and lesbian bishops-elect" and deplored "the lack of access to adequate pastoral and ritual care for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in large parts of the Episcopal Church and the refusal of the majority of our bishops to make provision for it.

In Montreal, a weekend synod voted 103 - 57 to support the blessings of gay marriages and partnerships. It still needs the approval of Bishop Barry Clarke. The vote came week after the diocese of Ottawa voted to allow similar blessings.

The issue already has fired up Anglican conservative worldwide who already are battling the American branch of the denomination over gay clergy. Divisions in the worldwide church have steadily grown since the ordination of Gene Robinson as Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 and the Anglican Church of Canada diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia approved same-sex blessing ceremonies. The priest who introduced the blessings motion in Montreal, Rev. Canon Paul Jennings, said he acknowledges the issue will be hard for many conservatives to accept. Asked by the Montreal Gazette if he felt it could help lead to a schism in the worldwide Church, Jennings said: "Will it tear the church apart? It already is. We're fooling ourselves if we think otherwise."