UK: Priests in civil partnership blessing were reckless, says bishop

Riazat Butt
The Guardian
Tuesday June 17 2008

Two gay priests who exchanged rings and vows in a wedding-style ceremony were reckless and self-indulgent, the Bishop of London said last night.

The Right Rev Richard Chartres made the comments during a sermon at evening prayer, while leading a conference of some of his diocesan clergy in Swanick, Derbyshire. It was the first time he has spoken about the service held at St Bartholomew the Great, in the City of London where the Rev Peter Cowell and his partner, the Rev Dr David Lord, tied the knot last month.

Neither could have predicted the hostility they would arouse when news of the service emerged. Within 48 hours of details being published about their service, Chartres launched an investigation into the occasion, the rector who "married" them faced calls for his resignation, and Lord returned his licence, preventing him from performing any clerical duties. the rest

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