The Church in Wales will next week consider taking a further step towards equality for gay clerics by providing improved pension rights for their civil partners.
But progressive elements in the Church remain uneasy that while there is an acceptance that priests can have a monogamous sexual relationship, the same tolerance does not extend to Bishops.
During a two-day meeting starting on Wednesday of the Church’s Governing Body, it will be recommended that surviving civil partners of retired clerics should receive a pension based on the priest’s entire working life. Until now, the rate of pension has only been calculated from 2005, when civil partnerships were first allowed.
It brings to mind a question in another article’s thread regarding TEC’s stand on mistresses (or the male equivalent, I suppose). What’s the big deal about “monogamy” these days? Reading the deep questions these churches are struggling with, it just seems so Pharisaical to say one must be one and done around the Anglican Communion. Fairness, and feeling good and right and all that.
Gee, what would happen if a +VGR type event occurred in Wales?
I can just imagine the “That’s not fair!” claims of divorced spouses complaining about the full pension given to the new trophy bride.
Matthew 20:1-16