Church of England split widens as leading Anglicans say gay marriage should be 'cause for rejoicing' - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17796511[/url] [quote=BBC News][b]A group of leading Anglicans says the Church of England has "nothing to fear" from the prospect of gay marriage and it is should be a cause for rejoicing.[/b] In a letter to The Times, prominent figures including five former bishops say statements by church leaders give a false impression of popular feeling. "We believe the Church has nothing to fear from... civil marriage for same-sex couples," it says. "It will be for the churches to then decide how they respond pastorally." A leading signatory of the letter is Dr Jeffrey John, the openly gay dean of St Albans, whose appointment as Bishop of Reading in 2003 was withdrawn after protests from conservative Anglicans. It is also signed by the suffragan bishop of Buckingham and the deans of Portsmouth, Norwich and Guildford. [b]It says marriage is a "robust institution which has adapted much over the centuries" and has "moved beyond the polygamy of the Old Testament and preoccupation with social status and property in pre-Enlightenment times".[/b] Plans to legalise gay civil marriage by 2015 have been put out for consultation by the government, and under the proposal, same-sex couples will be entitled to convert existing civil partnerships into marriages, or get married in a register office or other civil ceremonies. However, the plans maintain a ban on same-sex religious services, despite interest in them from some churches. Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church remained staunchly opposed to gay marriage and blessing civil partnerships, but opinion among Anglicans has been more divided.[/quote] The Church's [url=http://www.churchofengland.org/our-views/marriage,-family-and-sexuality-issues/same-sex-marriage.aspx]official position[/url] is for keeping the status quo of civil partnerships but not gay marriage.

Why can't the other religious organizations be like the church of england

[QUOTE=shian;35660001]Why can't the other religious organizations be like the church of england[/QUOTE] Because evil :downs:

My Uncle is an Anglican priest, I should ask what he thinks about it at some point because I really don't know. Anglicans in general seem to be pretty chill and the official position there is probably just the safe option you take when you don't want to upset anyone.

[QUOTE=shian;35660001]Why can't the other religious organizations be like the church of england[/QUOTE] The Church of England isn't exactly perfect. The title even says that the church doesn't exactly agree on the subject. So they're basically halfway to being okay. Not good, but okay.

Notably, the [url=http://c4m.org.uk/]Coalition for Marriage[/url], the main anti-gay marriage group, has a petition on their website in which the vast majority of signatures are blatantly fraudulent. [img]http://i.imgur.com/be8dH.png[/img] Seems legit!

[QUOTE=smurfy;35660408]Notably, the [url=http://c4m.org.uk/]Coalition for Marriage[/url], the main anti-gay marriage group, has a petition on their website in which the vast majority of signatures are blatantly fraudulent. [img]http://i.imgur.com/be8dH.png[/img] Seems legit![/QUOTE] That site hurts my brain. From what I can tell, they just don't want to bother "redefining" it. They don't really provide anything that says "this is why gay marriage would be bad" other than a vague slippery-slope reference to polygamy (which really doesn't seem like a big deal to me, either). I highly doubt people could lose their jobs over this, as they claim. And yeah, check out those signatures. I guess those anti-gay folks all put down their full legal names with correct capitalization on the internet? Please.

Statistically 45,000 of those who signed it are gay.

[QUOTE=Lizzrd;35660500]Statistically 45,000 of those who signed it are gay.[/QUOTE] yet they are all fags

[QUOTE=sp00ks;35660196]The Church of England isn't exactly perfect. The title even says that the church doesn't exactly agree on the subject. So they're basically halfway to being okay. Not good, but okay.[/QUOTE] But still better.

Anglican and proud.

[QUOTE=smurfy;35660408]Notably, the [url=http://c4m.org.uk/]Coalition for Marriage[/url], the main anti-gay marriage group, has a petition on their website in which the vast majority of signatures are blatantly fraudulent. [img]http://i.imgur.com/be8dH.png[/img] Seems legit![/QUOTE] I don't see what about that implies fraudulence.

[QUOTE=shian;35660001]Why can't the other religious organizations be like the church of england[/QUOTE] "Why can't more Churches be founded to get a divorce?" Fuck yeah Tudors.

[QUOTE=shian;35660001]Why can't the other religious organizations be like the church of england[/QUOTE] Because most religious organizations prefer [B]actually[/B] following their holy scriptures. That's why they're mostly hateful ignorant and bigoted.

[QUOTE=znk666;35664773]Because most religious organizations prefer [B]actually[/B] following their holy scriptures. That's why they're mostly hateful ignorant and bigoted/[/QUOTE] ...What the fuck are you talking about. Anyways, Great English Schism of 2014 anyone?

[QUOTE=Zambies!;35664954]...What the fuck are you talking about. Anyways, Great English Schism of 2014 anyone?[/QUOTE] Afaik the C of E has been split for years over stuff like women bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury has had real trouble stopping it from actually breaking apart. He's going later this year, his successor had better be careful

[B]YOU. GAY MARRIAGE OR DEATH.[/B] you're lucky I'm CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Nice to hear about some nice religious leaders for once. Reminds people religious people aren't all bad.

[QUOTE=smurfy;35665031]Afaik the C of E has been split for years over stuff like women bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury has had real trouble stopping it from actually breaking apart. He's going later this year, his successor had better be careful[/QUOTE] Well, hypothetically, if there was a schism, it of course wouldn't be like the schism of 1054 because its not like they will form two totally different sects. And now that I think about it, a schism of the English church would seriously fuck up the Queen/King because what church would they lead?