June 23, 10:57 am
For two weeks now, we’ve been focused rather myopically on B033 and the other Windsor related resolutions.
In fact, after the final vote on B033 Wednesday afternoon, most press organizations, Stand Firm included, packed up and headed home.
But there were several hours of legislative action still to go. During that time a number of resolutions were passed through the HOD without attention or debate.
One of those resolutions was resolution A095, which reads in its final form:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the Episcopal Church’s historical support of gay and lesbian persons as children of God and entitled to full civil rights; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the 71st General Convention’s action calling upon “municipal council, state legislatures and the United States Congress to approve measures giving gay and lesbian couples protection[s] such as: bereavement and family leave policies; health benefits; pension benefits; real-estate transfer tax benefits; and commitments to mutual support enjoyed by non-gay married couples”; and be it further
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention oppose any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions.
In an interesting exchange that took place during the debate on this resolution in the Social and Urban Affairs Committee, a committee member asked Elizabeth Keaton (also a committee member):
“Has the Episcopal Church ever voted to support same sex civil marriage?”
Ms. Keaton replied: “This is it.”*
Logically speaking the language does not, in fact, commit the Episcopal Church to actively support civil unions.
It does, however, commit the Church to actively oppose any move to limit or stop them.
Now you know.
*The dialogue above is based on the signed and written testimony of two sources."
So, don't you love it when people who think they are claiming the high moral ground in a civil rights promotion pull stunts like this...Griswold even told the press "We never.." while he knew this was 24 hours down the pike.
The above is found on Stand Firm. If you missed it, read Matt's reporting, watch the videos of Kendall Harmon and the recent essays of Sarah Hey.
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