Two years after the Episcopal Church opened the door to same-sex blessings, a local advisory board is urging Bishop Steven A. Miller to allow their use in the Diocese of Milwaukee, saying a majority of area parishes favor allowing them.
Miller said last week that he is reviewing the recommendation of his Standing Committee and will respond later this summer. But he reiterated his reservations, saying the blessing falls short of a marriage rite and as such treats same-sex couples inequitably in the eyes of the church.
“My concern about the rite is that it looks like marriage but says it’s not,” said Miller, who has voiced support for same-sex civil marriages.
“A blessing still keeps gay and lesbian people in a second-tier status,” Miller said.