Priests ask for choice over gay ceremonies

[xchrom]

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/02/02/anglican-priests-ask-for-choice-over-gay-ceremonies/

In a letter published today, over a hundred clergy from the Diocese of London have asked the Church of England to let individual priests be free to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples if they so wish.

The letter comes ahead of the General Synod meeting next week, at which the clergymen have requested acknowledgement of the “growing number of clergy” in London who feel that whether to conduct the ceremonies is “a matter for the conscience” for priests.

The London priests have asked the Synod to reject a blanket ban in favour of a more permissive stance.

As published in the Times today, the letter reads: “We, the undersigned, believe that on the issue of holding civil partnership ceremonies in Church of England churches incumbents / priests in charge should be accorded the same rights as they enjoy at present in the matter of officiating at the marriage of divorced couples in church.

[DCKit]

1. When they pull the same crap here, just remember:

There is secular marriage (which should be called a Civil Union, no matter the gender of the participants), and religious marriage, that which is in the eyes of your chosen God(s).

No church can (or should) be forced to preform a religious marriage, and many refuse to do so, and have historically refused to do so, even for people outside their faith or any other imaginable excuse. Governments, where same-sex marriages have been legalized, don't have that privilege.

I would imagine that, in Great Britain, self-styled conservative priests of many churches will refuse to perform these ceremonies, but the priest the next town over may very well do so.