JUNE 2008

Recently New Jersey laws have been amended to permit civil unions between gay and lesbian couples.  We support and applaud this decision.

"It is not an uncommon practice in Christian churches to bless crops, houses, pets and a hundred other things, even to the extent that warships and instruments of war have been blessed. Cannot it not then be, in the interest of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Love, to bless any relationship between two people founded and built on love?" [Positions,Principles and Practice sec. G.14]

It is a great consolation and gift from God, to have someone in this life with whom to be united. Someone in whom your spirit can rest and be refreshed, in whose company you delight; find comfort in sadness and celebrate your joys. It is in such times that Christ begs to be near us, to share and strengthen.  In that companionship of love, Christ does share, love and live with us!

It is our patron saint, Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, who wrote in his work Spiritual Friendship [De spiritual amicitia]: "I love those that God calls for me to love. To hold the hand of that hand that God reaches out for me to take. To cherish those that God calls upon me to cherish."

Therefore, it is a joyous proclamation of The National Anglican Catholic Church to bless, in private or public ceremony, any civil union between two persons who find and build that relationship on love.  Love for each other and love for God.