(CNS) General Convention 2012 Decisions “a huge obstacle on the path to Christian unity”

Posted by Kendall Harmon

In a decision that could strain relations with the Catholic Church and within its own Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church has approved liturgical resources for the blessing of same-sex relationships.

The church's House of Bishops voted 111-41 July 9 in favor of provisional use of the resources until the next General Convention, held every three years. About 80 percent of the church's House of Deputies gave their approval July 10.

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity called the decision "a huge obstacle on the path to Christian unity," saying it would affect the Catholic-Episcopal dialogue in the United States.

Read it all. I trust everyone reading the blog to keep up with some basic aspects of General Convention. The phrase "not being on the floor during the vote" is not accurate in reference to the "vote" in question. The majority of the South Carolina deputation and the bishop left General Convention on the second to last day--KSH.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • General Convention • --Gen. Con. 2012 • * Religion News & Commentary • Ecumenical Relations • Other Churches • Roman Catholic

4 Comments
Posted July 17, 2012 at 7:01 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Ralph wrote:

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity called the decision “a huge obstacle on the path to Christian unity,” saying it would affect the Catholic-Episcopal dialogue in the United States.

I don’t think there should be any dialogue at all between the national TEC and the Roman Catholic Church on the topic of unity. However, since TEC is not hierarchical at a national level, I think that dioceses that do not implement the homosexual agenda should be allowed to participate in such dialogue, as the Bishop and Standing Committee feel appropriate.

July 17, 10:26 am | [comment link]
2. dwstroudmd+ wrote:

Those Roman Catholics sure are tolerant.  Frank Grizwald had to leave commission before its report on the Virgin Mary so his 2003 “ordination” of Robinson wouldn’t sully the report.  And they are still holding on to the improbability that the EcUSA is worth ecumening with!

July 17, 4:11 pm | [comment link]
3. Cennydd13 wrote:

I don’t think there is any doubt about it.  This action by TEC’s General Convention will most assuredly adversely affect their relations with the rest of the Anglican Communion (and indeed the rest of Christianity minus TEC’s fellow travelers) ) once the word gets around…...and that won’t take long.

July 17, 7:20 pm | [comment link]
4. MichaelA wrote:

Yes, TEC hopes to make common cause with the Affirming Catholics in the RCC.  But times are changing there.

July 18, 1:51 am | [comment link]
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