Should Orthodox Anglican Bishops Meet with Bishops Proposing Gay Blessings?

Four Episcopal dioceses, three in California and the Diocese of El Camino Real, have come out with ringing endorsements of the California Supreme Court's recent ruling on same-sex marriages.

Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno called the decision an important one "because it reflects our baptismal vow to 'strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being' and our commitment to justice and mercy for all people."

Bishop Marc Andrus of California enthusiastically welcomed the court's decision, which effectively declared as unconstitutional Proposition 22, the "Defense of Marriage Act" approved by state voters in 2000 saying "All children of God should be afforded the same rights under the law" including the right to marry and establish a family."

San Diego Bishop James R. Mathes said he supported the Supreme Court's decision and would oppose the likely effort to amend the constitution. "At a federal level, the constitution has only been successfully amended to expand rights, not remove them, and it follows that California would maintain a similar posture," he wrote.

More recently, after reflecting with her Standing Committee, other California bishops, the chair of the Massachusetts task force on same-gender marriage and Bishop Tom Shaw of Massachusetts, the bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real said that she would allow a civil ceremony conducted by someone other than an Episcopal clergyperson, followed by a blessing of that union (which could surely include a Eucharist) by an Episcopal priest. Read more

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