Anglican sensibilities
Tue Jun 26 2007

CANADIAN Anglicans took a hesitant, ambiguous step toward expansion of gay rights on the weekend. They decided blessing same-sex unions does not conflict with their core doctrines, but their bishops blocked permission for each diocese to make its own choice about blessing such unions.

Votes at the church's Winnipeg general synod showed the wind was blowing toward greater acceptance of the gay and lesbian lifestyle. The church backed away from blessing same-sex unions, however, to preserve the unity of a worldwide church whose African and Asian branches condemn homosexuality.

For Canadian governments, this issue was settled two years ago by the former Liberal government's Civil Marriage Act, which extended the definition of marriage to cover same-sex couples. The new Parliament last year declined the Harper government's invitation to re-open the question. The Anglican decisions on the weekend suggested that acceptance in Canada of same-sex unions has grown. Supporters of the Civil Marriage Act can breathe easier. the rest