For immediate release
Additional information: Jim Naughton, 202-537-7162, jnaughton@edow.org
The
Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington,
today announced his support for legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in the
District of Columbia. Chane made his endorsement in a column on the Web site of
The Washington Post: http://tinyurl.com/yaze3xu
Noting
that recent media coverage has pitted conservative Christians against liberal
secularists, the bishop articulated a Christian case for same-sex marriage.
"I
would say respectfully to my fellow Christians that people who deny others the
blessings they claim for themselves should not assume they speak for the
Almighty," Chane said. "The church has deepened its understanding of the way in
which faithful couples experience and embody the love of the creator for
creation. In so doing, it has put itself in a position to consider whether
same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
"Theologically,
therefore, Christian support for same-sex marriage is not a dramatic break with
tradition, but a recognition that the church's understanding of marriage has
changed dramatically over 2,000 years. "
Chane
also praised the D. C. Council for its sensitivity to issues of religious
liberty.
"[I]t's
important to emphasize that the actions taken by the D.C. Council do not
address the religious meaning of marriage at all," he wrote. "The
proposed legislation would not force any congregation to change its religious
teachings or bless any couple. Our current laws do not force any
denomination to offer religious blessing to second marriages, yet those
marriages, like interfaith marriages, are equal in the sight of the law even though
some churches do not consider them religiously valid.
"D.C.'s
proposed marriage equality law explicitly protects the religious liberty of
those who believe that God's love can be reflected in the loving commitment
between two people of the same sex and of those who do not find God
there. This is as it should be in a society so deeply rooted in the
principles of religious freedom and equality under the law."
Like
many Episcopal bishops, Chane permits the clergy in his diocese to bless
same-sex relationships. He said the diocese is examining the church's canons to
determine whether priests will be allowed to sign marriage licenses if same-sex
marriage becomes legal.
The
Episcopal Diocese of Washington consists of 89 congregations, including
Washington National Cathedral, and more than 40,000 baptized members in the
District of Columbia and the Maryland counties of Montgomery, Prince George's,
Charles and Saint Mary's.
Jim Naughton
Canon for Communications and Advancement
Episcopal Diocese of Washington/202-537-7162
Episcopal Church House / Mount Saint Alban /
Washington, D. C. 20016