ENGLAND: Archbishops of Canterbury, York respond to blessing of gay priests' civil partnership

June 17, 2008 [Episcopal News Service] The archbishops of Canterbury and York have expressed their concern about recent reports that two gay clergymen have had their civil partnership blessed in a London church.

The full text of the archbishops' statement follows. An ENS report about the blessing ceremony is available here.

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"We have heard the reports of the recent service in St. Bartholomew the Great with very great concern. We cannot comment on the specific circumstances because they are the subject of an investigation launched by the Bishop of London.

"On the general issue, however, the various reference points for the Church of England's approach to human sexuality (1987 Synod motion, 1991 Bishops' Statement -- Issues in Human Sexuality, Lambeth motion 1:10, House of Bishops' 2005 statement on civil partnerships) are well known and remain current.

"Those clergy who disagree with the Church's teaching are at liberty to seek to persuade others within the Church of the reasons why they believe, in the light of Scripture, tradition and reason that it should be changed. But they are not at liberty simply to disregard it."

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