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AP

National Cathedral to perform same-sex weddings

As the nation’s most prominent church, the decision carries huge symbolism. The 106-year-old cathedral has long been a spiritual center for the nation, hosting presidential inaugural services and funerals for Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

In light of the legality of same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia and now Maryland, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, decided in December to allow an expansion of the Christian marriage sacrament. The diocese covers the district and four counties in Maryland. The change is allowed under a “local option” granted by the church’s General Convention, church leaders said. Each priest in the diocese can then decide whether to perform same-sex unions.

The Very Rev. Gary Hall, the cathedral’s dean, said performing same-sex marriages is an opportunity to break down barriers and build a more inclusive community “that reflects the diversity of God’s world.”

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Comment pages: 1 2

It’s a church,
NotCoach on January 9, 2013 at 10:42 AM

I don’t think so. A church is a place where Christians meet.

tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 10:45 AM

Really? I thought that was the YMCA…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:34 AM

“Episcopal” – that’s all you needed to read and it becomes a dog-bites-man story.

besser tot als rot on January 9, 2013 at 11:36 AM

NEWS FLASH: The United States of America has been a sovereign nation for 236 years,

there are churches in New York City and in Boston that have been around for 400 years.

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Please name a NYC or Boston church that was founded in 1613 or prior…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:36 AM

“Really? I thought that was the YMCA…”

There you go thinking again…..

tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 11:37 AM

It’s a church,
NotCoach on January 9, 2013 at 10:42 AM

I don’t think so. A church is a place where Christians meet.

tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 10:45 AM

Really? I thought that was the YMCA…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:34 AM

You must be really old if you thought that.

besser tot als rot on January 9, 2013 at 11:37 AM

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Please name a NYC or Boston church that was founded in 1613 or prior…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:36 AM

Way to be pedantic, 400 years was a generalization.

Building Image Location State First Built Denomination Notes
Cathedral of San Juan Bautista San Juan Cathedral.JPG Old San Juan, Puerto Rico PR 1521 Roman Catholic Oldest church building on US soil (extensive additions and renovations). The building has been on U.S. territory since Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898
Porta Coeli Porta Coeli in San Germán (Puerto Rico).jpg San Germán, Puerto Rico PR 1609 Roman Catholic It is now a museum of religious paintings and wooden carvings from 18th and 19th centuries. The building has been on U.S. territory since Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898.
San Miguel Mission Santa Fe San miguel chapel.jpg Santa Fe, New Mexico NM 1610 Roman Catholic Said to be the oldest church structure built in the continental USA. The original adobe walls and altar were built by the Tlaxcalan Indians from Mexico, but much of the structure was rebuilt in 1710. Building has been within the U.S. since 1848, when the New Mexico territory was annexed.[1]
St. Luke’s Church Newport parish west facade.jpg Smithfield, Virginia VA 1632 Episcopal/Anglican Said to be the oldest church in one of the thirteen original colonies, National Historic Landmark[2]
Jamestown Church Jamestown church ruins bw.jpg Jamestown, Virginia VA 1639 Episcopal/Anglican The church tower is the oldest surviving building in Jamestown, the 1st British settlement[3]
Old Ship Church Old Ship Church Postcard.jpg Hingham, Massachusetts MA 1681 Puritan, Congregational, now Unitarian Universalist Oldest church building in continuous ecclesiastical use in the United States; only remaining 17th-century Puritan meetinghouse in the US.[4]
Third Haven Meeting House Thirdhaven.jpg Talbot County, Maryland MD 1682 Quaker (Friends) Oldest building in Maryland. Oldest Quaker meeting house in the United States.
Old Indian Meeting House Old Indian Meetinghouse.jpg Mashpee, Massachusetts MA 1684 Congregational/Native American Oldest Native American church
King’s Chapel Kings chapel boston 2009h.JPG Boston, MA MA 1686 Unitarian Christian Oldest continually used religious site in Boston
Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow Old Dutch Church taken by James Russiello.JPG Sleepy Hollow, New York NY 1685 Dutch Reformed Oldest church building in New York
Old Quaker Meeting House (Flushing, Queens) Old-quaker-house-flushing.jpg Flushing, New York NY 1694 Quaker (Friends) Oldest religious building in New York City. The only surviving example in New York State of a typical 17th-century ecclesiastical frame structure of medieval design.[5]

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Way to be pedantic, 400 years was a generalization.

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Really? Funny, because 400 years sounds about as specific and exact as you can get about such things.

And I’m well aware of 400+ year old Spanish missions in the US. I used to attend Mass performed at one, from time to time. But never in Boston or NYC…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Way to be pedantic, 400 years was a generalization.

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Really? Funny, because 400 years sounds about as specific and exact as you can get about such things.

And I’m well aware of 400+ year old Spanish missions in the US. I used to attend Mass performed at one, from time to time. But never in Boston or NYC…

JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Like I said, Way to be pedantic.

SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:58 AM

So when will the Obamas marry? Each to whomever…

Schadenfreude on January 9, 2013 at 12:16 PM

God will not look kindly on this action..God won’t bless this church any longer..no doubt about it in my mind..Any Church attendee if a true christian, would no longer go to this church..it no longer practices Godly principles..well you can say that they did that before when you pray to a man and mother mary instead of the son, Jesus

sadsushi on January 9, 2013 at 2:24 PM

Never mind, thought it was a catholic church..

sadsushi on January 9, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Comment pages: 1 2