Episcopal priests vote on gay marriage

As of Wednesday, the Connecticut Episcopal church's laws and the state's laws concerning marriage no longer agree, and while priests are able to give pastoral blessings to gay marriages, they are unable to perform them.

At its convention last month, the Connecticut Diocese passed a non-binding resolution to allow priests to perform gay marriages. The resolution was supported 174 to 132.

The Reverend Robert Stocksdale of St. Andrew's Church in Meriden, voted in favor of the resolution.
"I would like for us to have the ability to chose," he said. "I don't think Jesus would turn away anyone."

The bishop of the diocese, Andrew Smith, said he could not change church law, but is studying the issue to see if a way could be found to allow priests to perform the marriages. The Book of Common Prayer, one of the church's constituting documents, defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Episcopal priests vote on gay marriage
Meriden Record-Journal