California Diocese Okays Same-Sex Couple Blessings
By Nathan Burchfiel
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
October 23, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - The Episcopal Diocese of California on Saturday approved religious blessings of homosexual couples, opening the way for same-sex couples to receive the same recognition the church gives to heterosexual couples.

In a statement on the Web site of Oasis California, the homosexual ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California (EDC), Bishop Marc Andrus pledged to make "lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders" (LGBT) feel welcome in the church.

"I will continue to represent the Diocese in the ongoing Church and Communion-wide conversations on the full inclusion of LGBT people," Andrus said. "I think the resolution properly augments my pastoral goal of caring alike for all of the people of the diocese, not reinforcing damaging distinctions." the rest