National Cathedral to perform same-sex weddings
Washington National Cathedral in November 2011 file photo / AP
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 tell The Associated Press the church will be among the first Episcopal congregations to implement a new rite of marriage for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender 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.
- Supreme Court schedules same-sex marriage arguments
- Baptist church in Iowa allows same-sex marriages
- Pope: Gay rights an "attack" on traditional family
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."
"I read the Bible as seriously as fundamentalists do," Hall told the AP. "And my reading of the Bible leads me to want to do this because I think it's being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be."
Celebrating same-sex weddings is important beyond the Episcopal Church, Hall said. Church debate is largely settled on the matter, allowing for local decisions, he said. The move is also a chance to influence the nation.
"As a kind of tall-steeple, public church in the nation's capital, by saying we're going to bless same-sex marriages, conduct same-sex marriages, we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture," Hall said.
Hall is the 10th dean of the cathedral and has been an ordained minister for more than 35 years. He said he began performing same-sex blessings in 1990 when he served at All Saints Church in Pasadena, Calif.
It will likely be six months to a year before the first gay marriages are performed at the cathedral due to its busy schedule and its pre-marital counseling requirement. Generally, only couples affiliated with the cathedral will be eligible. Church leaders had not received any requests for weddings ahead of Wednesday's announcement.
While Hall does not expect any objections within the National Cathedral congregation, he said the change may draw criticism from outside. It may be divisive for some, just as it was to preach against segregation or to push for the ordination of women, Hall said.
The New York-based Episcopal Church is the U.S. body of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion. The House of Bishops voted last year, 111-41, to authorize a provisional rite for same-sex unions. Some congregations have left the church over its inclusion of gays and lesbians over the years.
Same-sex marriage is now legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. Legislators in Illinois and Rhode Island are set to take up bills to possibly join them, and the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear cases on gay marriage in March.
The first same-sex wedding performed last month at West Point's Cadet Chapel drew some protests from conservatives. The National Cathedral is even more visible.
Hall, the cathedral dean, said the church has a long history of taking stands on public issues. But he said he sees marriage as a human issue, not a political issue.
"For us to be able to say we embrace same-sex marriage as a tool for faithful people to live their lives as Christian people," he said, "for us to be able to say that at a moment when so many other barriers toward full equality and full inclusion for gay and lesbian people are falling, I think it is an important symbolic moment."
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Port Authority releases photo of One WTC workers at dizzying heights 102 Comments
- Washington state bridge collapses 20 Photos
- Best U.S. beaches 2013 10 Photos
- Massive train collision takes down highway overpass
- Bridge collapse blamed on tractor-trailer 318 Comments
- Frantic 911 calls reveal chaos in Okla., following tornado
- Deadly Angel Flight crash in upstate New York
- Judge: Ariz. sheriff's office profiles Latinos 140 Comments
Christian circular logic.
---
It's all they have.
---
You are obviously biologically ignorant.
Homosexuality is not even rare in nature, much less non-existant. Monkeys and many other species engage in it. Some species even engage in orgies.
Get you head out of your dogma how-to manual and read something with facts in it for a change.....
----
It's about ending discrimination, not practicing homosexuality. It must be tough being you......
I would encourage you to read Romans 1:22-34 and let's remember "do it (homosexuality) in the name of heaven (religion) you can justify it--immorality in the end. But let me assure you, God Himself will not justify it and you will be judged by Him, not a false faith community/church.
Gary Hall, what a blasphemer! You call this den of iniquity God's world? This place doesn't reflect the diversity of God's world. This world is rife with evil. Your church is a reflection of that.
"I read the Bible as seriously as fundamentalists do," Hall told the AP. "And my reading of the Bible leads me to want to do this because I think it's being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be."
You are obviously reading the NIV - the bible written by man where God's Word was changed without His permission. In addition, how DARE you expound the Word of God. God will NEVER bless same sex unions and He will not bless your church either. I would never step inside it myself, because I don't bow down to graven images. And if you read your bible like you say (liar) then you would know what he says about the act of man lying with man and women lying with women.
Gary Hall and Mariann Edgar Budde, it is folks like you that have made me stop going to church. The lies and misinterpretations of the Word coming from the pulpit are outrageously abominable and blasphemous. I don't refer to either of you as people of God, bishop or reverend. You don't deserve the title.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And BTW, what the heck is "The Very Rev."? Very? Very what? Very blasphemous? You do not follow God at all. You serve MAMMON.
I read the bible that gives me the original Hebrew, the meaning of the word and how it is used.
Timothy 2:23 says to avoid foolish and unlearned questions. It only brings strife. If you've got a sincere question I would be more than happy to answer in truth.
The Episcipal Church has turned its back on God and made its own rules.
God's word changes not. Not then . Not now. All unrepented sodomites
will have their chance to make their case at the judgement.
God loves sinners, that's why Jesus died for us all. He loves us regardless of our sins, however, the Bible is very clear on homosexual pratices. Just because you don't believe in hell, does not mean you wont go there. I'm not perfect, I'm a sinner too. All of us are. But defending your sin and defying a loving God will not go unpunished. Turn from your sin before it's too late. Spare yourself eternity in the lake of fire.
Say whatever you like to defend your lifestyle, but God will have the last say.
I pray for this country and the Episciple church. How lost they are. What a shame.
God says " My word changes not"
You can take it up with the Lord when you see him on your knees.
Good luck.
Amen...