The Montreal branch of the Anglican Church of Canada has urged its bishop to allow clergy to bless same-sex unions, becoming the second in the church body to make the request.
Days after the Diocese of Ottawa voted to ask its bishop to allow clergy to bless "duly solemnised and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples," the Montreal Diocese approved a similar motion on Friday, raising another red flag to conservative branches in the global Anglican Communion.
Some Anglicans in the diocese may not be happy with the decision, said Montreal bishop Barry Clarke, who concurred with the vote.
"But at least we can say we are out there and we can say that's where we stand," he said, according to the Anglican Journal.
Friday's vote does not immediately change the policies and practice of the diocese. Clarke is scheduled to bring up the results of the vote at an Oct. 25-30 meeting in London, Ontario, with the Canadian house of bishops. There, Clarke will consult other bishops and consider the wider concerns of church members in the wider Anglican family, according to Clarke.
"Until a decision is made, there is no change in our current policy and practice; I expect our clergy to refrain from blessing same-sex couples," he said.
Delegates were urged to vote in accordance with their own consciences rather than being preoccupied with the possible political consequences of the vote at various levels of the worldwide Anglican church body, according to the Anglican Journal.
