Gay priests' lovers to get pensions

[tjwmason]

Gay priests' lovers to get pensions

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
(Filed: 16/02/2005)

The Church of England is to grant partners of homosexual clergy who have registered under the Government's new civil partnership scheme the same pension rights as clergy spouses.

The disclosure, made at the General Synod last night, could prove an embarrassment to the bishops because sexually active homosexuals are theoretically barred from the priesthood.

Only a few homosexual clergy have so far risked facing censure by publicly declaring that they are living in same-sex unions, but the prospect of gaining pension rights for their partners may prove an incentive for many more to "come out".

The bishops plan to issue a letter for the guidance of clergy and others before the Act comes into force.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/16/nchur16.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/02/16/ixportal.html

F.Y.I. The Church of England is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church U.S.A. is the American component.