Thursday, August 07, 2008

Same Sex Blessings and the Archbishop

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/15259/

[Stand Firm] 7 Aug 2008--I've noticed several bloggers and journalists this morning, most notably Steve Waring of the Living Church, highlighting the ABC's answer to a question from the BBC regarding the meaning of the second Windsor moratorium regarding same sex blessings; does the moratorium dealing with same sex blessings seek the cessation of the blessings themselves or does it seek to halt the creation of official diocesan or national liturgies for blessings?

Mr. Waring points to this line in particular of the archbishops answer:

"There are those in the U.S.A. who would say ‘pastoral response.’ Well, it’s a blessing and I’m not very happy about that,” he said.

In light of the disappointing Indaba Reflections from Lambeth Conference, many who inhabit the Anglican "center" or "center-right" have understandably focused a good deal of attention on the ABC's closing press conference, and on the above answer in particular, loading his words there down, I think, with more weight than they can or were intended to bear. Responses to questions by reporters, however true and thoughtful, are necessarily "off the cuff".

Confusion on the matter of same sex blessings is profound and longstanding.

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