Niagara Diocese to proceed with gay blessings

Tuesday, 18th November 2008
By George Conger

The Diocese of Niagara will go ahead with the blessing of gay civil marriages, the Rt Rev Michael Bird wrote to his diocese on the eve of its Nov 7-8 synod in Hamilton, Ontario.

Citing similar decisions taken by the dioceses of Montreal and Ottawa last month, Bishop Bird said he believed the diocese were “among those who have been called by God to speak with a prophetic voice on this subject.

“I, therefore, intend to ask for a rite to be developed for the blessing of same-sex couples who have been civilly married, along with a process to enable these blessings to take place that will at the same time honour the diversity of tradition and theology that exists across Niagara,” he said.

At its 2007 meeting, by a vote of 239-53 the synod asked the bishops to allow those clergy "whose conscience permits" to bless gay marriages. However, the Canadian House of Bishops at their Oct 2008 by a “large majority” called for a stay of liturgical innovations for gay weddings. Canada’s General Synod would take up the issue in 2010, the bishops said. the rest