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National Cathedral to perform same-sex weddings
By The Associated Press
This article was published January 9, 2013 at 7:02 a.m.
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WASHINGTON — The Washington National Cathedral, where the nation gathers to mourn tragedies and celebrate new presidents, will soon begin performing same-sex marriages.
Cathedral officials say the church will be among the first Episcopal congregations to implement a new rite of marriage for gay members. The church will announce its new policy Wednesday.
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.”
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 27 total comments
Jump to last page >>penber says... January 9, 2013 at 8:31 a.m.
If same sex marriages are not recognized at the national level, why should they be conducted in our National Cathedral?
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BillSmith says... January 9, 2013 at 8:50 a.m.
penber.....What don't you understand about "In light of the legality of same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia "? DUH!
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penber says... January 9, 2013 at 8:56 a.m.
Bill Smith, what do you not understand about NATIONAL cathedral?
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rainbowharold55 says... January 9, 2013 at 9:03 a.m.
'bout time!
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Packman says... January 9, 2013 at 9:54 a.m.
Will the National Cathedral also celebrate marriage between same sex heterosexuals, same sex polygamists, same sex siblings, and same sex members of the North American Man/Boy Love Association? It's all about marriage equality. Isn't that correct, rainbow?
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Pobucker says... January 9, 2013 at 10:10 a.m.
penbar, the cathedral is just NAMED national cathedral. It belongs to the episcopalians, not the country. separation of church and state, remember?
~
Once we get sharia law, then we can have a REAL national cathedral. They probably won't be marrying gays, though.
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djigoo says... January 9, 2013 at 10:15 a.m.
Sharia law...please. Whatever respect I had for you just dissipated.
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rainbowharold55 says... January 9, 2013 at 10:25 a.m.
Packman, marriage equality has nothing to do with the other situations you cited. Spoken straight from the lap of heterosexual privilege.
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Pobucker says... January 9, 2013 at 10:27 a.m.
well, dj, I'm sorry. Moslems scare me more than baptists or pentecostals. I mean, wow - if you think christians are all up in your personal business...
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djigoo says... January 9, 2013 at 10:53 a.m.
Packman's just giving us his daily display of ignorance.
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