Posted on 12/23/2005 4:10:41 PM PST by sionnsar
Bishops have expressed their frustration with the legislation on civil partnerships and backed the House of Bishops’ pastoral advice that clergy in civil partnerships should be celibate.
Three leading Diocesan Bishops – Chichester, Durham and Winchester – all released letters and statements to their dioceses this month to reassure traditionalists that civil partnerships do not lead to ‘gay marriage’ for clergy.
The Bishop of Chichester, John Hind, criticised an “unhelpful statement on the government’s official website that ‘wedding bells’ can be ringing in time for Christmas.”
He said the Church’s unease about the resemblance of civil partnership to marriages were based around references to ‘prohibited degrees of relationship’, provisions for dissolution and the failure to make the provision apply to partners of the opposite sex. “In this context it is important to stress that the Church’s teaching and practise have not changed,” he declared. He said that Christians should welcome the attempt by civil partnerships to remedy injustices but could only partially welcome them.
He called for a respect for the privacy of clergy, but said he would not “commend or defend any unmarried cleric living a non-celibate life or any married cleric living an adulterous relationship.”
In a strongly worded letter to his own clergy the Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, said that the Church had not altered its view on human sexuality by accepting that clergy could enter into civil partnerships. He said that the creation of services to ‘bless’ such partnerships would “exhibit a serious lack of integrity” and warned that he could “make disciplinary enquiries” if any such service occurred. Bishop Tom Wright also said that any clergyman entering into a civil partnership would face questions. “This would not (as is sometimes suggested) be ‘intrusive’ or ‘invasive’, but the proper exercise of pastoral oversight.” He added, “Let me stress that this is not about being ‘pro-gay’ or ‘anti-gay’. It is about the due and proper process of living together as a Church and Communion.” The Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt, also warned clergy that in the terms of the Bishops’ pastoral advice they could only enter into civil partnerships if their relationships conformed to church teaching, and that they could not provide services of dedication or blessing for civil partnerships.
But the gay rights group, Changing Attitude, claimed this month that at least half the bishops were unlikely to question clergy entering into civil partnerships and were supportive of their sexually active homosexual clergy. The Bishop of Worcester said in July that he couldn’t associate himself with the pastoral advice because it failed to celebrate gay relationships. A number of openly gay clergy have said they will enter into civil partnerships.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Job 23: 13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change; 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,
Daniel 7: 25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute[a] the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law.
Malachi 3: 6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change;
This is asking too much (my opinion only here) since those pastors who choose civil partnerships are open, sexually active, practicing homosexuals. Their civil parrnerships are only the precursor to homosexual marriages. That line has already been crossed by Sir Elton John. Same sex marriage among the homosexual clergy is on the horizon.
Then what will the bishops say and do? Their Church has already recognized open homosexuals as clergy, both genders. They have already recognized open homosexuals in civil partnerships. Now what? Deny homosexual marriages for their already recognized and ordained homosexually civil-partnered men and women clergy?
The horses have already gone. Too late to close the barn door. There is NO door anymore. Too many Scriptual moral absolutes and imperatives diminished already.
If these are the only problems that they can see with civil partnerships, I think these bishops are truly missing the point.
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