My initial reaction was baby steps – possibly welcome – and steps towards equality in this specific religious organisation (although not achieving equality).
However, my gut feeling is that equal but separate is not equal and this actually makes things even more polarised and apartheid like.
I knew two elderly gentlemen who lived in Maine, USA. Over the years I became friends with them, even though I live many miles away.
They were a kind and thoughtful couple.
They were members of the local Episcopal Church, played the organ for them, sang in the choir, worked at the church fund-raisers.
They had been together for over fifty years when one of them developed a degenerative disease that would lead to death in less than one year.
When they found out about the disease they went to their Episcopal priest and asked that their union be “blessed” (not a “marriage”, just a “blessing”), and he refused because his religion would not let him.
Needless to say, it was devastating for the couple, and the ill partner died soon after.
I too have “mixed views” on this announcement.
On one side it moves them in the right direction, and would give some relief to LGBT people of that religion.
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I have read this story and had mixed views.
My initial reaction was baby steps – possibly welcome – and steps towards equality in this specific religious organisation (although not achieving equality).
However, my gut feeling is that equal but separate is not equal and this actually makes things even more polarised and apartheid like.
I knew two elderly gentlemen who lived in Maine, USA. Over the years I became friends with them, even though I live many miles away.
They were a kind and thoughtful couple.
They were members of the local Episcopal Church, played the organ for them, sang in the choir, worked at the church fund-raisers.
They had been together for over fifty years when one of them developed a degenerative disease that would lead to death in less than one year.
When they found out about the disease they went to their Episcopal priest and asked that their union be “blessed” (not a “marriage”, just a “blessing”), and he refused because his religion would not let him.
Needless to say, it was devastating for the couple, and the ill partner died soon after.
I too have “mixed views” on this announcement.
On one side it moves them in the right direction, and would give some relief to LGBT people of that religion.
On the other hand, it is too late for my friends.