UK: Gay Clergy Allowed To Marry
Gay Clergy Allowed To Marry
02 June 2005
Gay priests are to be allowed to marry their partners when the Civil Partnership Act comes into force. However, they will have to remain celibate.
The proposed plans, drawn up senior bishops led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, allows the Church of England to uphold its doctrine forbidding clergy from having sex except in a full marriage.
However, they admit that once the Civil Partnership Act comes into force on 5 December 2005, they will have little choice to accept the right of gay clergy to have civil partners.
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement suggest that over 1,500 gay Anglican clergy will register their same-sex partners within then next five years.
Under the proposals a priest intending to register a civil partnership would inform his or her bishop in a one-to-one meeting. The priest would then promise to abide by the teaching of the Church of England which prohibits sex for gay clergy.
Although the plans do not include any sanctions for what happens if the rules are broken, it is widely thought that any breach would lead to disciplinary action or suspension.
The proposals are contained in a draft Pastoral Statement on Civil Partnerships and will go before the House of Bishops for approval.
Last week it was announced that a lesbian vicar will be among the first gay couples to ‘marry’ when the Civil Partnership Bill becomes legal.05.
Reverend Debbie Gaston, of the Metropolitan Community Church, and her long-term partner Elaine Cook, will be one of three couples to take part in a joint ceremony at one second past midnight.
“As a vicar I obviously believe whole-heartedly in the concept of marriage and I have married more than 30 couples myself,” said Gaston.
“Elaine and I have waited many years to be able to make this kind of commitment to each other and we both see the Civil Partnership Bill as a huge step in the right direction for equality.
“However, we are only part way there. Until I can have a legal ceremony in the eyes of God I will not feel completely fulfilled."
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23524&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News
02 June 2005
Gay priests are to be allowed to marry their partners when the Civil Partnership Act comes into force. However, they will have to remain celibate.
The proposed plans, drawn up senior bishops led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, allows the Church of England to uphold its doctrine forbidding clergy from having sex except in a full marriage.
However, they admit that once the Civil Partnership Act comes into force on 5 December 2005, they will have little choice to accept the right of gay clergy to have civil partners.
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement suggest that over 1,500 gay Anglican clergy will register their same-sex partners within then next five years.
Under the proposals a priest intending to register a civil partnership would inform his or her bishop in a one-to-one meeting. The priest would then promise to abide by the teaching of the Church of England which prohibits sex for gay clergy.
Although the plans do not include any sanctions for what happens if the rules are broken, it is widely thought that any breach would lead to disciplinary action or suspension.
The proposals are contained in a draft Pastoral Statement on Civil Partnerships and will go before the House of Bishops for approval.
Last week it was announced that a lesbian vicar will be among the first gay couples to ‘marry’ when the Civil Partnership Bill becomes legal.05.
Reverend Debbie Gaston, of the Metropolitan Community Church, and her long-term partner Elaine Cook, will be one of three couples to take part in a joint ceremony at one second past midnight.
“As a vicar I obviously believe whole-heartedly in the concept of marriage and I have married more than 30 couples myself,” said Gaston.
“Elaine and I have waited many years to be able to make this kind of commitment to each other and we both see the Civil Partnership Bill as a huge step in the right direction for equality.
“However, we are only part way there. Until I can have a legal ceremony in the eyes of God I will not feel completely fulfilled."
http://www.rainbownetwork.com/News/detail.asp?iData=23524&iCat=29&iChannel=2&nChannel=News
posted by JimG at 9:42 AM
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