No blessings in Fond du Lac

The Rt. Rev. Russell Jacobus has announced that there will be no blessings from the church for gay and lesbian couples in the Diocese of Fond du Lac (Wisconsin), reported in the PostCrescent.com:


For Fond du Lac Episcopal Diocese churches wishing to perform same-sex relationship blessing ceremonies, Bishop Russell Jacobus’ decision is no ... for now.

He told Saturday’s 138th Annual Diocesan Convention audience at the Holiday Inn Manitowoc that more study was needed “before we move forward into an era where the church would be re-interpreting ... the historical and traditional view of marriage.”

After his address to delegates, Jacobus said only one church in the diocese, with 37 worshiping sites, had discussed and studied the issue with the kind of thoroughness he believes necessary without risking unnecessary divisiveness.

That congregation is St. James, the downtown Manitowoc church that hosted this weekend’s convention, with several of its members expressing disappointment with Jacobus’ decision.

Ruby Bernhart found the bishop’s words “heartbreaking” and said, “When you lose compassion for fellow human beings, you are no longer a Christian but a hypocrite.”

Posted by Ann Fontaine on October 21, 2012 6:08 PM | |
Comments (2)

Is anyone really surprised that a traditionalist bishop has refused to allow his congregations to move into the twenty-first century? His call for more study makes his shrinking diocese look like a flat earth society.

It seems any recognition of same-sex couples, including the second-class blessings General Convention authorized, is too much for Jacobus.


Gary Paul Gilbert

Posted by Gary Paul Gilbert [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 22, 2012 11:30 PM

Well, at least he isn't making provision for his priests to officiate in neighboring dioceses, because we know how offensive THAT would be, right?

Two observations for Ms Bernhart: (1) "Christian" and "hypocrite" are by no means mutually exclusive categories, and (2) even if they were, we don't get to decide who fits which.

Bill Dilworth

Posted by billydinpvd [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 24, 2012 9:24 PM

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