Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJuly 20th, 2011
The new marriage equality law in New York not only changed the ability of gay people to marry, it also introduced a requirement for some of them to do so. (Christian Post)
In the wake of gay marriage soon becoming a legal institution in the state of New York, the Episcopal Bishop of Long Island, has ordered that homosexual priests wed their partners.
Long Island Episcopal Bishop Lawrence Provenzano has put his foot down against gay clergy who residing in homosexual relationships, and has given a nine month deadline for them to either get married or stop living together, according to the News Observer.
“I need to be mindful that the church has always asked people to live in committed monogamous, faithful relationships. I won’t allow heterosexual clergy to live in a rectory or church housing without the benefit of marriage. When one puts it in that context, then you see how it all begins to make sense,” said Provenzano.
Sounds fair to me.
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PLAINTOM
July 20th, 2011
I totally agree with the Bishop’s decision. This is marriage equality in action. Heterosexual and homosexual relationships being treated exactly the same. This is what we wanted. On a personal note, I think this will drive certain Catholic Bishops up the wall.
toujoursdan
July 20th, 2011
This is the official edict from the Diocese of Long Island:
Diocese of Long Island: A Theological Perspective and Practical Guideline on Marriage in the Diocese of Long Island as New York State Law Allows Same-Gender Marriage
Bishop Larry is my bishop and has always treated gay people with dignity and respect.
Matt
July 20th, 2011
Good.
Timothy Kincaid
July 20th, 2011
tjdan,
Thanks for that link. The Bishop’s statement included a paragraph that is perhaps the best explanation of the distinction between religious and civil marriage:
Those screaming about “marriage belongs to the church” need to read this. The Bishop agrees that, yes, marriage belongs to the church which is why he doesn’t get all hot and bothered about what the politicians do with “the civil agreement that is a by-product of marriage”.
Timothy Kincaid
July 20th, 2011
And I love this sentence: “No one is entitled to have his or her marriage blessed by a priest of the Church, unless he or she is willing to profess to holding true the teachings of the Church regarding marriage.”
Bishop Larry isn’t worried about the gender of the applicants, but he’s not “redefining marriage” or “attacking marriage” or “throwing out the meaning of marriage”. No, he’s insistent that you hold true that which truly defines marriage for an Episcopalian: teachings of the church.
Russ Manley
July 20th, 2011
I’d like to offer a correction: religious marriage belongs to the church; civil marriage belongs to the civil authorities. Google Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Laws of England,” which was THE legal textbook for more than a century in both Britain and America: “Our law considers marriage in no other light than as a civil contract.” When you get married in church here, you are getting both kinds of marriage, civil and religious, at the same time.
Of course, nobody has to get married in church, a courthouse wedding is just as good. The church does not “own” marriage, and did not invent it, even though lots of people are very confused on this point.
In France, the distinction is made much clearer: everybody first gets married at the town hall by the mayor, and then goes to the church for a religious wedding. Which wouldn’t be a bad idea over here, either.
Timothy Kincaid
July 20th, 2011
Russ, I agree with you. But from the Bishop’s point of view his concern is with church marriage. As it should be.
Paul J. Stein
July 20th, 2011
In other words…”Put Up Or Shut Up ! Sounds like a reasonable request of his employees.
Russ Manley
July 20th, 2011
Of course. And the Bp was right to do what he did – what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Now it will be very interesting to see whether the ECUSA goes ahead and approves a fully inclusive marriage rite at next year’s general convention.
Rob in San Diego
July 21st, 2011
Finally some decent people exist.
Amicus
July 21st, 2011
Priests into “bond-age”?
Tie the knot?
I’m sensing a pattern here. Buy rope.
Alex6500
October 29th, 2011
I am Episcopal.What a mess.I think Jesus does not like homosexuality.I did not come up with this doctrine.Against s
exual misconduct is in all the bible.No i do not think gay marriage marriage is holy.
Timothy Kincaid
October 29th, 2011
Alex,
I guess you are more familiar with the religious-rule-loving, dissapproving-of-nasty-sinners Jesus. I don’t think I can find that one in Scripture, but he certainly is popular with some people who call themselves Christian.
The one in the Bible didn’t seem to spend a whole lot of time on who was or was’t holy. In fact the only time he ever criticized anyone at all, they were church people.
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