The Montreal diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada has voted to allow priests to bless same-sex marriages and unions. The diocese at a weekend synod voted 103 - 57 to support the proposal, which still needs the approval of Bishop Barry Clarke.
The vote came week after the diocese of Ottawa voted to allow similar blessings. In 2002 the diocese of New Westminster, in British Columbia, endorsed a similar plan but put it on hold following opposition from church conservatives. In June the triennial General Synod, the Canadian Church's national governing body, agreed that same-sex blessings are "not in conflict'' with core church doctrine.
Bishop Clark gave no indication what he will decide on the blessings issue, saying only that "I'm glad we came to a place where we know where we stand." Ottawa bishop John Chapman also has not indicated whether he will endorse the vote in his area.
The priest who introduced the blessings motion in Montreal, Rev. Canon Paul Jennings, said he acknowledges the issue will be hard for many conservatives to accept. Asked by the Montreal Gazette if he felt it could help lead to a schism in the worldwide Church, Jennings said: "Will it tear the church apart? It already is. We're fooling ourselves if we think otherwise."
The vote came week after the diocese of Ottawa voted to allow similar blessings. In 2002 the diocese of New Westminster, in British Columbia, endorsed a similar plan but put it on hold following opposition from church conservatives. In June the triennial General Synod, the Canadian Church's national governing body, agreed that same-sex blessings are "not in conflict'' with core church doctrine.
Bishop Clark gave no indication what he will decide on the blessings issue, saying only that "I'm glad we came to a place where we know where we stand." Ottawa bishop John Chapman also has not indicated whether he will endorse the vote in his area.
The priest who introduced the blessings motion in Montreal, Rev. Canon Paul Jennings, said he acknowledges the issue will be hard for many conservatives to accept. Asked by the Montreal Gazette if he felt it could help lead to a schism in the worldwide Church, Jennings said: "Will it tear the church apart? It already is. We're fooling ourselves if we think otherwise."
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