Little noted in the history behind the California Supreme Court decision that gives the "right to marry" to same-sex couples are the bold steps taken over four decades by onetime Pentecostal minister Troy Perry in trying to establish legal and religious rights for gays and lesbians.

Perry, who founded a church 40 years ago that became an international denomination for Christian homosexuals, filed the initial lawsuit with his spouse and a lesbian couple in February 2004 that led to last month's ruling making California the second state, after Massachusetts, to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.

The 4-3 decision by the high court—though endangered by an expected state initiative in November to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage—marked another milestone for the homosexual-oriented Metropolitan Community Churches, started by Perry in 1968 in Los Angeles County.

Episcopal priest Susan Russell, the national president of the gay-advocacy group Integrity, indicated that supporters for gay union rites should raise these issues at the 2009 triennial Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, California. She told Episcopal News Service that it is time for the church to "be as prophetic as the state of California has been."

Bishop Jon Bruno, who heads the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese, said the court decision resonates with the church's baptismal vows to strive for justice and respect for all. "To paraphrase St. Paul," Bruno said in a May 15 statement, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord."

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Like Gene Robinson, Troy Perry was married to a woman and had two children with her but abandoned his family for the homosexual lifestyle.

[1] Posted by Piedmont on 06-02-2008 at 10:41 AM • top

Bishop John Chane allowed the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) to use the Washington National Cathedral to install a lesbian as their “Presiding Bishop.”

[2] Posted by Piedmont on 06-02-2008 at 10:46 AM • top

I get the feeling that TEC thinks only one vow is made at baptism. For TEC, the one that comes last is made the be-all and end-all of both the rite and the church. Which I find really sad and lacking.

[3] Posted by oscewicee on 06-02-2008 at 10:48 AM • top

Bishop Jon Bruno, who heads the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese, said the court decision resonates with the church’s baptismal vows to strive for justice and respect for all. “To paraphrase St. Paul,” Bruno said in a May 15 statement, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

To paraphrase Bruno, paraphrasing Paul, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

And no, I haven’t done violence to the quotation. After all, I’m paraphrasing - interpreting his words, since he’s obviously too much of a dolt to communicate to everyone else properly. Moreover, my interpretation is a valid one, because I say so.

[4] Posted by Moot on 06-02-2008 at 10:55 AM • top

Satan is also pretty good at quoting scripture——like to Jesus in the wilderness.

[5] Posted by PROPHET MICAIAH on 06-02-2008 at 11:23 AM • top

Too bad people like Gene Robinson and Troy Perry didn’t address their sexual confusion early on in their lives. Instead they chose to drag others into their “secret” lives then abandon them once they decided which gender they preferred to have sex with. Dispicable.

[6] Posted by The Templar on 06-02-2008 at 11:27 AM • top

It seems a new definition for paraphrasing is needed.
Paraphrase - to restate a comment in a manner that supports a position when in actuality the comment contradicted the position.

[7] Posted by Another Pilgrim on 06-02-2008 at 11:35 AM • top

His mother must be very proud…

[8] Posted by FrVan on 06-02-2008 at 02:46 PM • top

Would that be mother single or singular?

[9] Posted by Pageantmaster on 06-02-2008 at 02:56 PM • top

#9: I suppose that would depend on where they live (i.e., California, single. Arkansas, singular)...

[10] Posted by FrVan on 06-02-2008 at 03:00 PM • top

LOL Fr Van.

[11] Posted by Pageantmaster on 06-02-2008 at 03:02 PM • top

PM (#5)

What do you mean, “also” ? On this occasion, Bruno hasn’t even quoted Scripture as well as the evil one, to our Lord in the wilderness.

Frankly, I wouldn’t trust Bruno to paraphrase Jn 11:35.

[12] Posted by Moot on 06-02-2008 at 03:09 PM • top

“To paraphrase St. Paul,” Bruno said in a May 15 statement, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I’m not so sure that St. Paul would enjoy having his words twisted as support for self-serving secular agendas. Besides, how does this “bishop” relate the above statement to the assumption that any human, gay or straight, is automatically entitled to redefine the Christian sacrament of marriage?

And, “becuz I feel like it” just isn’t good enough.

[13] Posted by Passing By on 06-02-2008 at 03:21 PM • top

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