Miami-based Bishop To Allow Blessings for Same-Gender Couples

Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida Bishop Leo Frade will allow clergy in the Miami-based diocese to bless the unions of same-sex couples who have been legally married in states or countries.

The bishop said he was allowing the blessings in light of Resolution C056, passed by the General Convention during its July 8-17 meeting in Anaheim, California. The convention allowed bishops to "provide generous pastoral support to meet the needs of members of this church." While the resolution said this permission especially applied to bishops in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, Frade said clergy could only bless civil marriages of same-gender couples.

"This is no more nor less than we do for heterosexual couples who wish to have their unions blessed by the church -- they must be married," he said.

Bishop Frade made this announcement on his blog, which you can read here.
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