Friday, September 13, 2002
Canadian church approves civil union ceremonies for same-sex couples
A story released today by the Canadian Press reports that the Montreal
presbytery of the United Church of Canada has given its ministers and
congregations the go-ahead to perform civil-union ceremonies for same-sex
couples.
"We're the first major denomination that's saying yes to the government,"
said Fred Braman, acting secretary of the presbytery.
Quebec's civil-union law, adopted last summer, authorizes notaries to
perform civil-union ceremonies and to dissolve such unions where there is
mutual consent.
Braman said the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming vote at a
presbytery meeting Tuesday night attended by about 100 people, about half of
them clergy.
He said the resolution does not require individual United Church ministers
to perform civil-union ceremonies if they do not want to.
The presbytery is to make public shortly a list of churches and ministers in
the Montreal area that perform civil unions.
