Canadian bishops delay blessing same-sex unions

All but one of Canada's Anglican bishops will hold off on blessing same-sex unions until at least 2004, according to a statement released Tuesday by the country's 30 diocese heads. As reported in the Montreal Gazette, one bishop--Michael Ingham of the British Columbia diocese of New Westminster--has been effectively grandfathered into being allowed to bless gay and lesbian partnerships because his parish authorized him to do so in June.

Just before catching a plane back to Vancouver from Mississauga, Ontario, Ingham said he is pleased with the outcome of the semiannual House of Bishops meeting. Ingham hasn't yet blessed any same-sex unions, but he will soon give his consent to priests in his diocese to do so. Ingham has been both applauded and severely criticized after church leaders in his diocese voted this summer to sanction the blessing of same-sex unions.