"The legislature's action in broadening the definition of marriage to include same sex unions has to do with civil law, as it properly should. It does not determine Church teaching about the nature of sacraments. That is our continuing work. However, nothing in the unfinished nature of that work should cause us to hesitate to give our most profound thanks for the step that has been taken in affording equal civil rights for our brothers and sisters."

Bishop R. William Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese of WNY said, "Many Episcopalians believe that in community, we can discern with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a way in which the letter of Scripture is compatible with a wider inclusion of the life of partner gay and lesbian people in our community. And that would apply, now, to the question of marriage.

"Whenever social evolution takes a step in one direction or another, there is usually cause for celebration for some and pain for others. But even in times of disagreement, God gives us a way forward. That way forward is for each of us to respect the dignity of all other human beings. This is our Episcopal way. We strive to be a big tent.

"I personally see gay marriage as a matter of human rights and social justice. I believe today's vote in the New York State legislature to approve gay marriage was the right thing for the legislature to do, and I welcome the decision. At the same time, I recognize that there are many in our community who disagree. Their thoughts, like my own, are prayerfully and honestly held and deserve to be heard respectfully.

"I will be holding meetings soon for members of our diocese to listen to how Episcopal churches in Western New York might integrate this decision into our life. At its 2009 General Convention the whole Episcopal Church called for exploration of our Church's sacramental response to gay and lesbian unions in light of the changing circumstances in civil legislation and the theological diversity within our Church on this issue. That process is ongoing.

"The doors of our churches are open to all. I want to assure gay and lesbian couples who are already members of our churches, as well as anyone who may be seeking to join a spiritual community, that the Episcopal Church welcomes your presence and your full participation in the life of our community."

From the Diocese of Long Island, Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano asked rhetorically, "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?

"These words taken from the promises in the Baptismal liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer can be prayed more clearly today as the Gay and Lesbian community and all of New Yorkers begin to live into the reality and joy that same gender marriage is now law in New York. To the many LGBT members of the diocese I celebrate this day with you, your loved ones and families.

"Today the New York Senate has helped us all move yet closer to living the reality that there are no outcasts in the church. The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island will engage this new law with a generous and open response allowing, under the provision of our General Convention, the use of rites for same gender marriage by priests of this diocese who believe they are called to preside at the exchange of vows, once the law has taken effect in 30 days.

"Respecting the dignity of every human being will also be lived out in our continued care for those who do not celebrate this milestone in the lives of God's people. Respecting the dignity of every human being includes those who feel a sense of loss and anger. The love and charity of Jesus Christ proclaimed in the gospels does not have winners and losers. We are all God's people, redeemed and sanctified by the enormous love of God made real in Jesus Christ. Let us all move forward in the knowledge of that love and charity and more fully live into the reality of being the Body of Christ."

A rally in Rochester for and against same sex marriage saw Rochester Episcopal Bishop Prince Singh at the pro-rally. He said his Church is wrestling with the same sex marriage issue. In his Church role, he cannot marry a same sex couple. But he's hoping a dialogue will lead to change. "It is something that is part of their inherent gift as God has made them. And this is an engagement of science and religion that people have been grappling with for a long time, but we are becoming a little more honest about it."

Episcopalians had already allowed for the possibility of this action by these bishops at the 2009 General Convention when they passed Resolution C056, which says that bishops, "particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church."

The resolution directed the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to work with the House of Bishops to collect and develop theological resources and liturgies for blessing same-gender relationships. The commission is to report to the 77th General Convention in 2012 in Indianapolis. In March, the SCLM held a church wide consultation on the issues surrounding C056.

Bishop Skip Adams, who leads the Central New York Episcopal diocese, sent a letter Monday freeing priests to perform the ceremonies.

"They are free to use their own discretion in their pastoral responsibilities in their own parishes," Adams said.

The decision does not require any Episcopal priest in the diocese - an area that includes nearly 100 churches from the St. Lawrence River, south to the Pennsylvania border, east to Rome and west almost to Geneva - to perform same-sex marriages.

However, the Roman Catholic Church strongly opposes the marriage equality movement. Bishop Matthew Clark of the Rochester Catholic Diocese issued a statement saying, "We believe that marriage is a sacrament celebrated between a baptized man and a baptized woman, and so same-sex marriage is not possible. Roman Catholics cherish the institution of marriage between a man and a woman as divinely inspired, a sacred union...God himself is the author of marriage."

The New York State Catholic Conference responded to the Senate's decision to legalize same-sex marriages Friday night by saying, in part, "We strongly uphold the Catholic Church's clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman."

The overall effect of Episcopal support for same-sex marriage is that it will further alienate The Episcopal Church from the orthodox Anglican Global South whose 35 million members view the actions of TEC as a violation of Scripture, the Windsor Report and a hoped for Covenant that will probably never see the light of day.

It will simply be more nails in the coffin of Anglican unity.

END

Statement of the Roman Catholic Bishops of NY State on same-sex "marriage" vote

June 24, 2011

The passage by the Legislature of a bill to alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage leaves us deeply disappointed and troubled.

We strongly uphold the Catholic Church's clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves. This definition cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths.

We worry that both marriage and the family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of government in passing this legislation that attempts to redefine these cornerstones of civilization.

Our society must regain what it appears to have lost - a true understanding of the meaning and the place of marriage, as revealed by God, grounded in nature, and respected by America's foundational principles.

+Timothy M. Dolan Archbishop of New York
+Howard J. Hubbard Bishop of Albany
+Nicholas DiMarzio Bishop of Brooklyn
+Edward U. Kmiec Bishop of Buffalo
+Terry R. LaValley Bishop of Ogdensburg
+Matthew H. Clark Bishop of Rochester
+William F. Murphy Bishop of Rockville Centre
+Robert J. Cunningham Bishop of Syracuse

Since this story ran, VOL has heard from the Bishop of Albany the Rt. Rev. William Love. He rejects the recently enacted same-sex legislation and will not permit his priests to perform such acts in his diocese. You can read his announcement here: http://tinyurl.com/6crvb2o