Catholic bishops continued to keep the same-sex marriage issue at the top of their agenda on Sunday, asking New Jersey Catholics to pray that state lawmakers don’t allow same-sex marriage before the Republican Chris Christie takes office in January. On Sunday’s Meet the Press, Camelback Church pastor Rick Warren professed that in his mind, the gay rights movement should take a back seat to feeding the poor, but he didn’t deny his belief that because the Bible says so, same-sex marriage is wrong or admit where he would stand should something like Prop 8 be done over, except to say he wasn’t really involved with Prop 8.
But while the controversial groups talk the talk, the Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese proceeds in its quest to have sacraments include all people, and in so doing, actually walks the walk.
Bishop M. Thomas Shaw announced that Episcopalian clergy are now allowed to marry all eligible couples—including same-sex ones—effective the beginning of Advent, which was yesterday.
Christian marriage is a sacramental rite that has evolved in the church, along with confirmation, ordination, penance, and the anointing of the sick, and while it is not necessary for all, it must be open to all as a means of grace and sustenance to our Christian hope.
I believe this because the truth of it is in our midst, revealed again and again by the many marriages—of women and men, and of persons of the same gender—that are characterized, just as our church expects, by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, and the holy love which enables spouses to see in one another the image of God.
In the 76th General Convention, C056 was passed, allowing bishops where same-gender marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships are legal to “provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church.”
The decision is voluntary. Solemnizing same-sex marriages will be at the discretion of the clergy and individual congregations within the diocese. It includes “hearing the declaration of consent, pronouncing the marriage and signing the marriage certificate.”
Realizing that those who rally against same-sex marriage refer to the Bible as their support for marriage between “one man and one woman,” Bishop Shaw emphasizes that the New Testament emphasizes love for all:
We also know that by calling us to minister in the context of this particular place and time God is again blessing our diocese with a great challenge by which we might enter more fully into that ethic of love which Jesus speaks to us through the New Testament. It is an immeasurable love given for all. We are being asked to live it, all of us, children of God, each with equal claim upon the love, acceptance and pastoral care of this church, so that the newness and fullness of life promised through word and sacrament might be for all people and for the completion of God’s purpose for the world.
Source:examiner.com
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