GENERAL CONVENTION: ABOUT TO ENDORSE GAY MARRIAGE?

By Auburn Traycik
VirtueOnline Correspondent

COLUMBUS, OH (6/17/2006)--Did Episcopal bishops effectively back same-sex marriage in a resolution they narrowly adopted late Friday?

Resolution A095, "Gay and Lesbian Affirmation" - which at this writing was still pending in the House of Deputies - reaffirms ECUSA's "historic support of homosexuals as "children of God and entitled to full civil rights; calls on local, state and national legislators to approve measures giving homosexuals certain protections and benefits, and - in its final resolve - opposes "any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions."

An effort by some bishops to excise the third resolve failed.

Asked whether this amounted to an endorsement of gay marriage or same-sex civil unions, conservative bishops gave somewhat differing answers.