Philocrites wrote about a now-tabled resolution in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts that would have asked clergy not to solemnize marriage, but only to go so far bless civil marriage. I hate this cut-nose-spite-face business, especially if there’s an underlying benefit of getting church-shopping brides and grooms off your back. Philo also knocks some big holes in the alleged church-state blurring implied by clergy officiation of weddings.
Now we have a fun story from Japan via the BBC. Seems some Westerners who have not so much as an Internet ordination have been standing in as priests for the Western-style marriage ceremonies that are so popular there. These too, I suppose, would be classified as blessings as the couple have already been married in a civil ceremony.
Perhaps the Massachusetts Episcopalians can go whole hog and not only un-table the resolution next year but authorize stand-ins?
Do read the article, especially if you enjoy a bit of nuptial schadenfreude.
“Faking it as a priest in Japan” by Kathleen McCaul (BBC News, 2 November 2006)