News for Week Ending 5/13/2013

ARCIC III meeting issues communiqué

The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 29–May 7, 2013, and issued a communiqué. This was the third meeting of the latest round of discussions, designated ARCIC III, between members of the Anglican Communion and of the Roman Catholic Church. The work of ARCIC III was described this way: “The mandate for this third phase of ARCIC is to explore: the Church as Communion, local and universal, and how in communion the local and universal Church come to discern right ethical teaching.” No substantive agreements were announced.

Marriage equality comes to Delaware, Rhode Island

While the country waits for the Supreme Court to rule on California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, gay marriage is slowly making progress in state after state. On May 2, 2013, Rhode Island became the 10th state to approve same-sex marriage. Five days later, Delaware became the 11th.  (Stories about the Rhode Island and Delaware legislation can be found here and here, respectively.) On May 9, Episcopal News Service reported that the bishops of Rhode Island and Delaware were supporters of the new laws and have welcomed them.

Marriage equality about to come to Minnesota

On May 13, 2013, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill that will allow same-sex marriage in the state. The House already passed the measure, and Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law as early as Tuesday, May 14. MSMBC reported the story shortly after the Senate vote here.

South Carolina newspaper summarizes status of litigation regarding diocese

There were no major developments in the litigation regarding the schism of the Diocese of South Carolina this past week, but the Florence, South Carolina, Morning News, in a May 10, 2013, story, published a helpful summary of where litigation currently stands.

Account of courtroom drama in Quincy published

Virtue Online has published a first-person account of the courtroom drama taking place in Quincy, Illinois, pitting the parties resulting from the schism of the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy against one another. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) The May 5, 2013, narrative by Michael Romkey doesn’t provide much insight into the substance of the case, but it does capture the flavor of the courtroom action.

Integrity to hold June meeting

The Pittsburgh chapter of Integrity USA, which works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in The Episcopal Church and beyond is re-organizing after a period of inactivity. A meeting has been announced for June 23, 2013, at Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill. Additional details can be found on the group’s Facebook page here.