CIRCLING THE DRAIN
If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us knew deep down how this was going to play out. The Episcopal Organization may have begun chipping away any of its residual Christianity decades ago. It may have tolerated atheist bishops without anyone ever filing charges. But all that was out there somewhere. My parish is safe. My rector and bishop don’t believe in and would never tolerate that garbage.
Well, guess what? The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which used to be one TEO’s most conservative (it’s two prior bishops were Terrence Kelshaw and Jeffrey Steenson), officially throws in the towel:
Episcopal priests in the Rio Grande Diocese can begin to bless same-sex relationships following an announcement by Bishop Michael Vono that he would provide an official liturgy, as of Sunday, for that purpose.
The announcement comes six months after the General Convention of the Episcopal Church approved a liturgy enabling priests to bless same-sex relationships with the approval of their bishops. The blessings are allowed both in states where same-sex marriages are legal or, as in the case of New Mexico, where they are not.
“It’s not a marriage in any way,” Vono said in an interview Sunday. [Yet - Ed]“It’s not a legal marriage. It’s not a marriage in the church. This is a recognition of a commitment, which is a covenant, of two people who vow to live their lives in a monogamous relationship.”
Vono stressed that “no priest or congregation is required to offer these liturgical blessings,” in a letter that was included with liturgical resources. Vono said he expects that there would be congregations with traditional clergy within the diocese who will choose not to administer the blessing.
Vono’s “spiritual” justification for this move was laughable.
Well, guess what? The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which used to be one TEO’s most conservative (it’s two prior bishops were Terrence Kelshaw and Jeffrey Steenson), officially throws in the towel:
Episcopal priests in the Rio Grande Diocese can begin to bless same-sex relationships following an announcement by Bishop Michael Vono that he would provide an official liturgy, as of Sunday, for that purpose.
The announcement comes six months after the General Convention of the Episcopal Church approved a liturgy enabling priests to bless same-sex relationships with the approval of their bishops. The blessings are allowed both in states where same-sex marriages are legal or, as in the case of New Mexico, where they are not.
“It’s not a marriage in any way,” Vono said in an interview Sunday. [Yet - Ed]“It’s not a legal marriage. It’s not a marriage in the church. This is a recognition of a commitment, which is a covenant, of two people who vow to live their lives in a monogamous relationship.”
Vono stressed that “no priest or congregation is required to offer these liturgical blessings,” in a letter that was included with liturgical resources. Vono said he expects that there would be congregations with traditional clergy within the diocese who will choose not to administer the blessing.
Vono’s “spiritual” justification for this move was laughable.
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