The Connecticut Catholic Conference issued a strong statement opposing the decision, which it said “imposes the recognition of same-sex marriage upon the people of Connecticut.”
Pointing out that the General Assembly approved civil unions, but not marriage, in 2005, the conference said, “The real battle in this court case was not about rights, since civil unions provide a vast number of legal rights to same-sex couples, but about conferring and enforcing social acceptance of a particular lifestyle, a lifestyle many people of faith and advocates of the natural law refuse to accept.”
Bishop Andrew D. Smith, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, said priests in the diocese could not perform same-sex weddings because marriage is defined in the Book of Common Prayer as “a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God.”
“For us to change that practice in terms of having clergy officiate at gay or lesbian marriages, we have to change the prayer book,” which is authoritative for Episcopalians, Smith said. It cannot be changed without the approval of two national conventions.
Just to be clear, the piece goes on to note that “Smith has allowed priests to bless civil unions if the parish’s vestry, its governing board, approves, but said he was not ready to take a position on whether marriages between gays or lesbians could also be blessed.”
The abbreviated quote seemed to suggest that +Drew might be a traditionalist or (gasp) Windsor-compliant.
It’s ok if it doesn’t upset the parish?
Having heard Bishop Smith speak on several occasions, included at least 2 resonably extensive talks with detailed question and answer, +Smith sounded as though his objections to same sex marriage church ceremonies is only that it is not yet approved canonically and actively supports changing the canons.
The court can say or do what ever they like, I will not recognize a same sex relationship or dignify it with the name “marriage”. I will be voting in favor of a constitutional convention this November.
Note the balance in the article (ha). Thirteen paragraphs before the first quote from an opponent.
Again, the Catholic Church stands up. TECs leaders have proven to be not so much.