Episcopalian Church Split on Same-Sex Unions

Episcopalian Bishops in New York are in support of same-sex marriages, resulting in a blow to the bible and Christianity. Anglicans referred to as Episcopalians in Unites States (US) have lined up behind new laws which have been ratified by New York lawmakers who narrowly voted to legalise same-sex marriage June 24, in the state where the gay rights movement was born.

New York has now become the sixth state with the US to legalise the same-sex marriage although the federal government of the US does not condone it. Individual states have been slowly folding to the pressure from activist groups, who might be in the minority. Other states who are in support include, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon.

Four of the six Episcopalian bishops in New York have welcomed the passing of a Bill by the city's Senate which allows same-sex couples to marry. The Senate voted by 33 to 29 to pass the Marriage Equality Act.

The Bill gives an opt-out to religious organisations and clerics, who cannot be sued, or otherwise punished, for refusing to carry out a same-sex marriage, but before the ink could dry on the bill Episcopalian Bishop, Lawrence C. Provenzano had lent his support.

"Our faith traditions teach us that all people are children of God, deserving of love, dignity and equal treatment, and we, the undersigned therefore believe that gay and lesbian New Yorkers in committed, loving relationships should be able to protect each other with the critical safety-net provided by civil marriage," said Provenzano.

This union being called for by the bishop has lead to a split within his church. The Anglo-Catholic priest, Rev. Peter W.D. Bramble, of St. Mark Episcopal Church in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has resigned from his church because his bishop, Lawrence Provenzano endorsed New York's passage of the Marriage Equality legislation.

"Last night I went up on the diocesan website to look for something and saw that the bishop had responded to the legislation being passed authorizing those priests who wanted to, to perform same sex marriages within 30 days. I could no longer live with my conscience and stay in the Episcopal Church. It is a cesspool. I am not comfortable here anymore. I don't even know what the priests I sit next to in the diocese believe anymore." Bramble said. (virtueonline.org)

Interestingly, Bramble was quick to explain that his daughter, a lesbian, was married to another woman but he declined to participate in or attend her wedding ceremony.

"Yes, I love my daughter very much," he said. (nationnews)