Posted on 11/28/2013 3:25:11 PM PST by marshmallow
LONDON (Reuters) - Church of England clergy would be able to "bless" same-sex relationships under long-awaited proposals unveiled on Thursday as the church adopts a more open - but disputed - approach to homosexuality.
Although gay couples would still not be able to legally marry in a church, the proposed change would officially sanction clergy to let gay and lesbian couples mark and celebrate same-sex marriages and civil partnerships in a church service.
Critics swiftly condemned the "blessing" proposal as contrary to the church's teaching on sexual conduct.
The proposal was among 18 recommendations put forward by a working group set up two years ago amid growing tension over the church's approach to gay worshippers and clergy but could take up to two years of discussions before becoming policy.
Acknowledging the issue was divisive, group chairman Joseph Pilling said the church needed to reflect rapid changes in society as senior clergy express fears of a looming crisis, with falling attendance rates and failure to attract young people.
This year, parliament introduced new laws to allow gay marriages from 2014 after legalizing civil partnerships in 2005 and the church dropped its ban on gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops.
"You can make a church a cold place for gay and lesbian people ... or you can make it a more warm and accepting place," Pilling told a news conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Guess they are following their American cousin, the ECUSA.
Reminds me of Fiddler on the roof when the Rabbi was asked if there was a blessing for the Czar; of course, there's a blessing for everything:
"May the Lord bless the Czar and keep him...far away from us!"
Do they really think this will keep the homos happy? - you cannot compromise with the devil you idiots - he wants all of it boy!
Mel
Drip, drip, drip. The experiment is over.
You think the Catholic Church had problems with priest molesting boys, wait until the gay clergy have their full blessings.
If it’s possible, people in London may be even dumber than those in the USA.
Will they also bless other sins?
The pilgrims knew what they were doing when they left.
If they honestly think this will ‘attract’ young people, they’re delusional. The great falling away is at hand. How do you bless sin?
“”You can make a church a cold place for gay and lesbian people ... or you can make it a more warm and accepting place,” Pilling told a news conference.”
Revelation 22:14-15 MKJV
(14) Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.
(15) But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.
NB: A wanton, self-prostituting man is called a “dog” (Deu_23:18).
Summary as relates to the above quote: People who practice sexual immorality cannot attain salvation. This is not “cold”. It is the truth. It is only “cold” like two plus two only equals four is “cold” when someone dearly yearns for it to be some other number. God does not “accept” sin. Sexual immorality is sin, plain and simple.
To people who were committing sin, Jesus the Savior said they must start showing by their actions that they have repudiated their sinful practices. Matthew 3:8
Not surprising at atll Marshmallow you hear lots of Church of England people are coming to Cathoic church in droves
Hmmmm,I wonder what Bible they preach.?
Until they became Unitarians.
Really, then I guess the Church of England is becoming a church of Satan.
Will they also be blessing murders, abortions, adulterers, and thieves on par with this other new blessing?
A pathetic charade for all involved parties — clergy “blessing” the anus.
No, but the Anglicans of the 17th century wouldn’t have approved of these shenanigans, either.
“You think the Catholic Church had problems with priest molesting boys, wait until the gay clergy have their full blessings.”
Has any religious group ever given gay clergy their full blessing without first accepting birth control within marriage, abortion, divorce and remarriage, and female clergy? I don’t think I have ever heard about any that didn’t accept every one of those thing first.
Freegards
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