L.A. Episcopal Diocese Condones Blessing Gay Unions

I write often about anti-gay denominations and endeavor to point out their lies, hypocrisy and hateful conduct towards LGBT citizens. It is important to remember that not all denominations are homophobic. A case in point is the Episcopal Church and certain dioceses in particular such as the Episcopal Church Diocese of Los Angeles. I truly believe that time is on the side of LGBT equality and acceptance by all but the most reactionary and ignorant denominations. Like it or not, advances in medical and mental health knowledge not to mention the acceptance of gays by the younger generations will force denominations to either join the modern world or eventually wither and perish. Here are highlights from the Los Angeles Times concerning the LA Diocese's position on gay unions:

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The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has announced that church leaders can bless the unions of same-sex couples as a matter of policy. The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, whose diocese encompasses Los Angeles County and five other Southern California counties, made the announcement Friday during a diocesan convention in Riverside.

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Bruno's declaration is not expected to have a major effect on Episcopal churches in Southern California. Many have been blessing gay unions for years. But he has now made it official. "The practice has not changed. The policy has. . . . It's sort of like 'coming out,' " said the Rev. Susan Russell, a lesbian priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Russell also is president of Integrity USA, a group representing the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the Episcopal Church.

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The rite endorsed by Bruno also allows the blessing of other relationships, such as those between two senior citizens who do not wish to legally marry because they might lose health insurance or Social Security benefits.

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Diocese representatives also passed a resolution at their convention calling on the Episcopal Church to let gays and lesbians become bishops. The L.A. diocese is expected to elect two suffragan, or assisting, bishops in 2010, and some say it is possible a gay or lesbian bishop could be nominated from among qualified candidates around the world.