Canada: Same-sex unions on Anglican agenda
By Kevin Lajoie
October 13, 2007

Local Anglican church officials will have their collective pulse taken today on the controversial issue of blessing same-sex marriages.

Church clergy and laity attending the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa's annual synod in Cornwall will vote on a motion asking the local bishop to allow clergy "whose conscience permits" to bless same-sex unions.

If approved, it will then be up to Bishop John Chapman to make a final decision on whether the practice will be allowed.

The issue comes months after a similar motion was narrowly defeated by the General Synod of Canada. The bishops voted 21 to 19 against the idea of allowing same-sex blessing ceremonies, even though the church agreed same-sex blessings do not conflict with its "core doctrine." At that time, Chapman voted in favour of allowing same-sex blessings, but it remains to be seen whether he will offer the same support at the diocesan level. The Anglican Diocese of Ottawa covers most of eastern Ontario - including Cornwall and S, D and G - and western Quebec and consists of 142 congregations organized as 84 parishes. the rest