Canadian Primate and Archbishop Williams to Discuss Same-Sex Blessings

10/15/2007

The Archbishop of Canterbury will welcome Canada’s new primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, to Lambeth Palace for a private meeting Tuesday. Archbishop Hiltz said recently he would raise the issue of gay blessings as a pastoral measure during the meeting.

The meeting was scheduled before the Diocese of Ottawa approved a resolution supporting same-sex blessings during its annual synod Oct. 13, becoming the first diocesan legislature in Canada to address the issue since the nationwide General Synod approved seemingly contradictory resolutions last summer.

By a margin of 177-97 delegates approved a resolution Saturday asking that priests be given the right to approach the bishop for permission for such a blessing, should their parish approve.

Ottawa Bishop John Chapman said he welcomed the synod vote because it tells him where the diocese stands on the issue. However, he stressed that the final decision on whether to bless gay marriages still rests with him, and he expects to take his time making that decision. He wants to talk to other bishops, both nationally and internationally, before announcing a decision.

During its General Synod in June, the Anglican Church of Canada made seemingly contradictory decisions when it ruled that same sex blessings do not contravene core doctrine, and then refused to allow local dioceses to decide for themselves whether to permit priests to bless homosexual unions.

This article comes from The Living Church Foundation
http://www.livingchurch.org/

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