An exchange of rings and vows by a gay couple in an Anglican Church has erupted into a large-scale controversy and led the church to launch an investigation.
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Because the Anglican Church does not provide services of blessing to gay couples, however, the clergymen met with Rev. Martin Dudley to discuss the details of a service that would not overstep the already discriminatory rules. Dudley presided at the service, which was attended by about 300 people and run along guidelines set by the House of Bishops in 2005 stating that requests for prayer for civil partnerships be responded to “pastorally and sensitively.”
Despite the clergymen’s concessions, the bishop of London called for an investigation on the service. Lord resigned after immense pressure following the launch of the investigation.
Giles Fraser, vicar of Putney, responded to the results of the investigation: “This is disgraceful. It’s amazing this church cannot celebrate what little love there is in this world. It was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives and they have been turned into outcasts.”
The struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights is seeping into all facets of society. The struggle for inclusion within historically backwards institutions is a result of the broader fight for equality and same-sex marriage currently being waged in many corners of the world.
The Church of England, like many other religious institutions, is experiencing a shuffling of policy towards the LGBT community. The consecration of openly gay priest Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire by the U.S. Episcopal Church—the U.S. branch of the Anglican Church—caused movements toward a potential schism by more socially conservative bishops.
In October 2007, an Anglican Church diocese in Canada voted for the approval of same-sex blessings. The vote is not binding since the Canadian church does not allow dioceses to decide whether or not perform gay blessings on the basis of “preserving unity.” Nevertheless, the vote reflects the ongoing internal struggle within the church.
The Church of England is facing more internal strife after bishops voted to approve the consecration of women. Over 500 priests have threatened to leave the church in protest. Two women in Australia have already been ordained as bishops.
There is a struggle within the Church of England, but behind its religious veneer there is a struggle for equality and justice. The contradiction between backward religious beliefs and the advances made toward the liberation of women and the LGBT community has allowed more progressive clergy members to force a debate on topics long considered taboo.
Traditional institutions under capitalism represent the reactionary ideologies of a class system based on division and exploitation. A united, working-class movement against the system that espouses such ideologies must counter it with a scientific view of the world and wage a struggle against all forms of bigotry and inequality.
