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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Break down those barriers and be inclusive.
And if you don’t agree then you are a bucktoothed, trailer-dwelling hick who should be locked up.
Bishop on January 9, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Fabulous.
/
BuckeyeSam on January 9, 2013 at 10:09 AM
If you don’t do it voluntarily, they’re going to force you too anyways.
That’s part of their plan.
p0s3r on January 9, 2013 at 10:10 AM
The State IS the religion.
shuzilla on January 9, 2013 at 10:11 AM
‘Perform’? Sounds like same-sex surgery.
tommy71 on January 9, 2013 at 10:12 AM
How else is the Episcopal church going to make the news?
dczombie on January 9, 2013 at 10:12 AM
The Episcopal church is imploding, and this will cause even more members (and churches) to leave.
Ward Cleaver on January 9, 2013 at 10:12 AM
i love my dog Rt. Rev. when can we get hitched, you being for diversity and all.
renalin on January 9, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Gotta find some way to pay for all that earthquake damage that happened recently…wait a second…
JeremiahJohnson on January 9, 2013 at 10:14 AM
How else is the Episcopal church going to make the news. Nothing like selling out your principles to get your name in print. They fit in quite well in Washington.
dczombie on January 9, 2013 at 10:14 AM
WOW
gophergirl on January 9, 2013 at 10:14 AM
When will there be a polygamous marriage in the National Cathedral?
When will we have true marriage equality.
gwelf on January 9, 2013 at 10:14 AM
oh, please.
Dante on January 9, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Pretty much the only way the United States can secure a peaceful and prosperous future. Consummated sodomy.
tom daschle concerned on January 9, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Whatever. Not being an Episcopal I don’t really care.
NotCoach on January 9, 2013 at 10:20 AM
ZOMG
Good Lt on January 9, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Next they will be marrying dudes and cows!
Pablo Honey on January 9, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Marriages (ceremonies) are way down – the National Cathedral is simply chasing the money.
jake-the-goose on January 9, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Further confirmation of my decision to write off 75% of my generation (this number includes the watered down Christians, seen above).
nobar on January 9, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Standing by to witness God’s Wrath. I think this should be a safe distance…
DarkCurrent on January 9, 2013 at 10:23 AM
This is Episcopal so its not a real church. It was to be expected that a worldly institution would suck up to the world’s ways.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Why is polygamy still illegal? Why didn’t the recent changes in marriage laws in several states include polygamy?
gwelf on January 9, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Remember “stay out of our bedrooms!”
That was OK by me. This wasn’t part of the deal. Same goes for Folsom St.
forest on January 9, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Isn’t the Episcopal Church basically a “secular humanist” organization that meets in a church and has fancy robes?
gwelf on January 9, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Barney Frank has been “married” for a while now, you been in a coma or something?
Bishop on January 9, 2013 at 10:28 AM
To ask the question is to answer it.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Worse yet they will be allowing polygamy in marrying animals.
Guys will be marrying their whole barnyard.
Pablo Honey on January 9, 2013 at 10:28 AM
The National Cathedral is a National Embarrassment.
HotAirian on January 9, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Excellent question. Polygamy is a traditional form of marriage after all.
DarkCurrent on January 9, 2013 at 10:32 AM
So in other words you don’t have an answer that doesn’t turn you into a bigot according to your own standards.
gwelf on January 9, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Because a man marrying 2 women is nasty and incredibly perverse, but a man marrying a man is normal. And inclusive.
Bishop on January 9, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Well, isn’t that just sooo special . . .
Bleh.
KickandSwimMom on January 9, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Do taxpayers pay for this? I hope not…gay marriage or not.
ChrisL on January 9, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Thread winner
gwelf on January 9, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Amazing.
As predicted. The state bends the church.
We really are becoming China.
budfox on January 9, 2013 at 10:41 AM
It’s a church, so no.
NotCoach on January 9, 2013 at 10:42 AM
The despots, slavers, and cartels of this world thank you for your useful idiocy, reverend.
locomotivebreath1901 on January 9, 2013 at 10:43 AM
They are part of the global Anglican church correct? Last time I checked the African continent contains the vast majority of there members and those guys are 1000% against gay marriage.
If they haven’t seceded yet this should do it.
CorporatePiggy on January 9, 2013 at 10:45 AM
I don’t think so. A church is a place where Christians meet.
tommyboy on January 9, 2013 at 10:45 AM
House of worship? Whatever demon/demons Episcopals are worshiping is their problem though.
NotCoach on January 9, 2013 at 10:49 AM
I’m not Epsicopalian so I don’t care.
I do find it funny that they referred to it as some religious standard for the country. Being a big, old church in D.C. doesn’t make you my religious center (or most other people’s religious center). Honestly, when it was first mentioned I assumed it was a Catholic cathedral (which would have been shocking – but, since it’s Episcopal, it’s kind of par for the course). Is it possible for something to be your religious center and you to not even know which sect they’re affiliated with?
JadeNYU on January 9, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Whatever. I’m still getting married at BlizzCon.
Oh? That’s already been done. Welp, nevermind~~~~~~
Jeddite on January 9, 2013 at 10:51 AM
SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Only when the Fifth Column Treasonous Media is working it’s propaganda indoctrination voodoo magic.
The lies, deceits half truths and misdirection in this propaganda are disgusting.
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.
More importantly, OK, so two US Presidents, out of 44 have held official ceremonies there, big whoop, pointing out that Ronald Reagan was one of them does absolutely nothing to legitimize their claim that this pathetic excuse for a Church is in any way Representative of America.
SWalker on January 9, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Time to rename this building. National cathedral? Nah.
Mason on January 9, 2013 at 11:11 AM
As usual all snarks no smarts.
That wasn’t an answer.
CW on January 9, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Indeed. National Cathedral seems to imply that there is a National Religion which is surely an idea that would give media types the vapors.
CorporatePiggy on January 9, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Rename it to Temple of Aphrodite.
done.
tom daschle concerned on January 9, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Yeah. Considering the relative prosperity here, compared to nations where this would mean the execution of the cleric in charge, like Iran, Egypt, and even Saudi Arabia, I gotta conclude God’s not all that worried…
JohnGalt23 on January 9, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Barnyard animals? Pablo Honey has a new reason to face the day. You might want to, you know, protect yourself.
hawkdriver on January 9, 2013 at 11:34 AM
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