Episcopal Bishop 'Downgrades' Marriage

The California Same-Sex marriage initiative got another shot in the arm on Monday as Episcopal Bishop Marc Handley Andrus encouraged all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, to seek a civil ceremony first followed by a church blessing in order to give all marriages equal footing.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - If same-sex marriage can't be upgraded to a church-sanctioned ceremony, then let's downgrade traditional marriage. This is the position of one California bishop in The Episcopal Church USA (TEC).

On Monday, June 9, only two days after Bishop Gene Robinson participated in a civil union and church blessing with this male partner, Bishop Marc Handley Andrus issued new pastoral guidelines for the Diocese of California with regard to marriage, including same-sex unions.

In a pastoral letter Andrus began by saying, "I welcome the ruling of the California Supreme Court affirming the fundamental right of all people to marry. I am writing to you now to recommend a path to use this decision to strengthen our support of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered sisters and brothers, and our continued witness to God's inclusive love."

The bulk of the letter contained pastoral guidelines he is recommending for use in his diocese. The intent on the part of the bishop is to make all marriages look the same by encouraging all couples, regardless of gender orientation, to seek a civil ceremony first and then the blessing of the church.

He further encouraged that all couples follow the California Family Code on selecting someone from the proper secular categories to perform the marriage and have Episcopal Clergy operate only within the sphere of blessing. The complete text of the letter can be found at: http://episcopalbayarea.org/joomla/content/view/666/87/

According to the bishop, this model is intended to show that there is no distinction between homosexual and heterosexual marriage by having them all formed the same way.

Andrus ultimate goal is to have clergy within the diocese preside at same-sex marriages in the church. He sees this set of guidelines as a means to give all marriages equal footing until that takes place.

The bishop went on to encourage all Episcopalians, clergy and lay, to volunteer as Deputy Marriage Commissioners, since there is an estimated 4,000 couples planning on having a civil ceremony very soon. He intends to volunteer himself at his earliest opportunity.

The Diocese of California oversees 82 Churches in and around the San Fransisco Bay area.

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