WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington National Cathedral, where the nation gathers to mourn tragedies and celebrate new presidents, will soon begin performing same-sex marriages. Cathedral officials tell The Associated Press the church will be among the first Episcopal congregations to implement a new rite of marriage for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members. The church will announce its new policy Wednesday. As the nation's most prominent church, the decision carries huge symbolism. The 106-year-old cathedral has long been a spiritual center for the nation, hosting presidential inaugural services and funerals for Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. In light of the legality of same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia and now Maryland, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, decided in December to allow an expansion of the Christian marriage sacrament. The diocese covers the district and four counties in Maryland. The change is allowed under a "local option" granted by the church's General Convention, church leaders said. Each priest in the diocese can then decide whether to perform same-sex unions. The Very Rev. Gary Hall, the cathedral's dean, said performing same-sex marriages is an opportunity to break down barriers and build a more inclusive community "that reflects the diversity of God's world." "I read the Bible as seriously as fundamentalists do," Hall told the AP. "And my reading of the Bible leads me to want to do this because I think it's being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be." Celebrating same-sex weddings is important beyond the Episcopal Church, Hall said. Church debate is largely settled on the matter, allowing for local decisions, he said. The move is also a chance to influence the nation. "As a kind of tall-steeple, public church in the nation's capital, by saying we're going to bless same-sex marriages, conduct same-sex marriages, we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture," Hall said. Hall is the 10th dean of the cathedral and has been an ordained minister for more than 35 years. He said he began performing same-sex blessings in 1990 when he served at All Saints Church in Pasadena, Calif. It will likely be six months to a year before the first gay marriages are performed at the cathedral due to its busy schedule and its pre-marital counseling requirement. Generally, only couples affiliated with the cathedral will be eligible. Church leaders had not received any requests for weddings ahead of Wednesday's announcement. While Hall does not expect any objections within the National Cathedral congregation, he said the change may draw criticism from outside. It may be divisive for some, just as it was to preach against segregation or to push for the ordination of women, Hall said. The New York-based Episcopal Church is the U.S. body of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion. The House of Bishops voted last year 111-41 to authorize a provisional rite for same-sex unions. Some congregations have left the church over its inclusion of gays and lesbians over the years. Same-sex marriage is now legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. Legislators in Illinois and Rhode Island are set to take up bills to possibly join them, and the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear cases on gay marriage in March. The first same-sex wedding performed last month at West Point's Cadet Chapel drew some protests from conservatives. The National Cathedral is even more visible. Hall, the cathedral dean, said the church has a long history of taking stands on public issues. But he said he sees marriage as a human issue, not a political issue. "For us to be able to say we embrace same-sex marriage as a tool for faithful people to live their lives as Christian people," he said, "for us to be able to say that at a moment when so many other barriers toward full equality and full inclusion for gay and lesbian people are falling, I think it is an important symbolic moment." |
Posted by MonkeyPunchBaby How fucking dare this evil institution do such a thing? Obviously this is a trap or something. Whats the "real" reason for this. I'm sure you hateful assholes will have tons of reasons why this isn't real or whatever. Let the bigotry towards religion begin, even though religion has been making tons of progress in gay rights. Article |
Posted by Samurai god and religion still suck. don't give a fuck if you like it or not. |
Posted by HarvestmanMan Why would you make a post if you don't care what people have to say about it? |
Posted by Samurai Sincerely, ONE right out of HOW MANY WRONGS? this isn't a conscientious decision... it's just good p.r. |
Posted by Samurai Sincerely, ONE right out of HOW MANY WRONGS? |
Posted by Samurai um, do you really think i give fuck one what either one of you have to offer on this topic? i don't. |
Posted by Aleksandar if you really don't give a fuck, then leave and never come back. |
Posted by HarvestmanMan He feels the need to constantly remind us that he doesn't give a fuck. So, in other words, he gives a fuck about not giving a fuck. Lots of fuck transactions going on here. |
Posted by Aleksandar you probably cannot list a single example from history, where atheist values were institutionalized at the national level without murder, indoctrination and brutality. face it kid, your ethos is as bankrupt, absurd and dangerous as anyone else's -- in fact, quite a lot more-so. i am terrified of the idea of atheist ethos taking root in any government. where atheism takes root as social policy, freedom and quality of life collapse. |
Posted by splumer so "avowed atheist" might be a bit of a stretch. Mao, I' m not sure about. And while it's true that communist countries were/are officially atheist, it's also irrelevant, and a common tactic by religious apologists to attempt to discredit atheists. |
Posted by splumer In no case did Stalin, Mao or any others commit their crimes in the name of atheism. |
Posted by splumer I could point out the people who were, and continue to be, killed in the name of religion, or by religiously motivated beliefs |
Posted by splumer or point out that religious belief among convicted criminals is higher than in the general population, but I won't. |
Posted by splumer What I prefer, and what we in the US are supposed to have, is a secular gov't that takes no stand on religion whatsoever. |
Posted by splumer If you look at countries like Sweden, Holland and Denmark, they have the smallest number of religious believers, lowest church attendance, etc., yet have a far better quality of life, higher standard of living, longer life expectancy, lower crime rate, fewer abortions, etc. Are the two connected? There is a lot of evidence to suggest they are. |
Posted by Aleksandar 1. he was an avowed atheist, and if you knew about history and his life you would already know this. |
2. it is a common tactic used by religious apologists because it is true. it is the same tactic used when atheists bring up the crusades. you and they are the same, pal. |
You just did point it out, and it is important to. Religious-motivated violence is appalling. My argument isn't that religion is not in some cases dangerous. My point is that atheism is its own religion, is in some cases dangerous, and requires as much faith. Tekriter's pithy forum signature analogy about atheism not being a religion is just misdirection, and skirts the fundamental reality that atheism fits an accepted definition of religion, "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith". |
Correlation does not imply causation. Religious belief is higher in unjustly imprisoned people than in the general population, too. Religious belief is higher amongst the philanthropic, and amongst those involved in community service. So what's your point again? |
Surveys where respondents indicate religion "isn't a daily priority" returns a more Europe-centric view, but you can't use this to create the correlation/causation you're implying and this is one of the major critiques of Dawkins' line of reasoning in his book. If there was a linkage, then the countries in the first set I referenced would also fit the socio-economic description you provide. In fact, irreligion is on the rise in Europe for a variety of reasons, and the socio-economic prosperity in these countries pre-dates their migration away from religion. |
Posted by splumer Some interesting stats on the rise of the religious unaffiliated: http://www.pewforu...-unaffiliated.aspx Now tell me again how bad the standard of living is in those countries? I never said that lack of religious belief caused these countries to have better numbers, but is there a correlation? |
Posted by splumer You could point out all the cases of miltant atheists burning churches, killing believers |
Posted by splumer and prevent believers from holding jobs or positions in organizations |
Posted by splumer Atheism was tertiary at best in communist countries. |
Posted by splumer Actually, "atheism" might not be the best term for it, since atheism implies the belief that gods don't exist, and communist dogma doesn't concern itself with existence. |
Posted by splumer "Anti-religion" might be a better descriptor. |
Posted by splumer The common definition of religion also involves the belief in god(s). |
Posted by splumer Indeed, correlation doesn't imply causation. My point is that belief in god(s) doesn't make you a good person, and belief is not inoculation against doing bad things. |
Posted by Aleksandar Militant atheists burned churches and killed the religious. |
This thread is in a public category, and can't be made private. |