Letter From Bishop of Los Angeles On Same Sex Marriage [Gay Church Alert]

Stand Firm ^ | October 15, 2008 | Jackie Bruchi

[kaehurowing]

Received via email:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The Supreme Court of California has determined that all citizens of our state should have equal access to marriage as a civil right based in our state constitution. The Court's ruling provides the Church with an opportunity to reflect on our own theology of marriage. In the Diocese of Los Angeles, we have sought to provide the Church's blessing to all the baptized people of God. . Among those are people who have sought to have same-sex relationships blessed in the community of faith. I know that the acceptance of same-sex unions has caused spiritual struggle and questioning for some members of our Diocese, our Church and the Anglican Communion. My policy has been to allow clergy to respond to the needs of their community with pastoral sensitivity including the blessing of these unions as they deem appropriate to the pastoral context.

Earlier this year, when the court made same-sex marriage an option in civil law, I felt it necessary to convene a task force to develop a diocesan policy by which clergy in our Diocese might officiate at same-sex marriages. The task force has developed educational materials that I hope will help you and members of our Diocese to reflect on the issues involved in same sex-marriage as we discern our way forward.

I hope that all clergy in our Diocese might educate our congregations about marriage and have conversations about it.

Performing and blessing these marriages is not simply theoretical. There are real people in congregations large and small who have waited sometimes for many years for this opportunity, and the witness of their faithful love has been an inspiration to me. Other couples will step forward in the future. I hope you will take the opportunity in the next several weeks to listen to their stories. Many among these couples are members of our congregations.

While no one in this Diocese will be forced to move beyond what his or her conscience allows, we seek to provide that gracious space for those whose conscience compels them to bless the marriages of all faithful people as together we discern the work of the Holy Spirit who continues to lead us into all truth.

Your Brother in Christ, J. Jon Bruno Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles

[kaehurowing]

Episcopagan Cult of Los Angeles to begin performing same-sex marriages, claiming it is the work of the Holy Spirit.

[jtal]

Goodness ... when I saw this headline I thought this was going to be from Mahoney!

The sad thing is that it would have been credible ....

[Claud]

Heretic and fool.

How’s continuing Anglicanism doing in the LA area? I hope there’s a place for folks to go that want out of this nonsense.

[weegee]

Among those are people who have sought to have same-sex relationships blessed in the community of faith

I guess the story of Sodom and Gomorrah was just a bigoted lie.

[ConservativeMind]

Those are some sick perverts.

There is no way to “bless” or “glorify God” via a same-sex sexual relationship.

Next, they’ll be “blessing” bestiality sex unions with animals.

How is such a “church” not pagan?

[Miss_Liberty]

Attn: homos - back into the closet please.

Seriously, it’s never enough, not only is it in our face all the time, but we have to embrace it and sanctify it and even teach it in to our kids? I think not. Back to the closet! You are still abnormal.

[SoConPubbie]

The Court's ruling provides the Church with an opportunity to reflect on our own theology of marriage. In the Diocese of Los Angeles, we have sought to provide the Church's blessing to all the baptized people of God. . Among those are people who have sought to have same-sex relationships blessed in the community of faith.

Sorry Bishop but out-and-out unrepentent sinners, which homosexuals are by their very nature, cannot be baptized because they are not born-again.

[elpadre]

wasn’t their bishop a former professional football player??

[Mrs. Don-o]

If Obama becomes president, he'll bring the hammer down hard to break Catholic institutions (schools, charities, social services, hospitals, healthcare providers) by legally requiring them to cooperate with gravely immoral acts such as contraception, abortion, unmarried sexual relations, gay marriage, etc --- all under the guise of "non-discrimination."

Then we'll see tussle, elaborate attempts at obfuscation, connivance and compromise, and ultimately schism, and the emergence of a Patriotic Reich-church and an Underground Church. Brace yourself.

[jtal]

Yes, what folks don’t seem to understand is that what government pays for government controls - today the university system, tomorrow health care, the day after religious institutions.

I agree with you - I believe we are on the verge of seeing the church forced underground - perhaps in our lifetimes.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Sorry Bishop but out-and-out unrepentent sinners, which homosexuals are by their very nature, cannot be baptized because they are not born-again."

I cannot discount the possibility that you may be using words in a way different from the way I understand them, but let me say this:

Homosexuals are not "by their very nature" unrepentant, or deprived of grace, or damned. A person who has an unwilled tendency to same-sex attraction can do with it what any other person does with a temptation: succumb to it, or struggle against it.

I am quite close to some males who struggle with a homosexual orientation. I am convinced that, with God's help, everyone can strive to live free from sin and to avail themselves of God's mercy and grace.

My observation is that living our sexuality honorably and sinlessly can be difficult for anybody, young or old, single or married, so-called "gay" and so-called "straight."

May the Divine Assistance be with us all.

[Salvation]

Wiggly jello made from kool-aid.