June (Web-only) 2002

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Anglican diocese in Canada may bless gay unions
Anglicans in Vancouver and surrounding areas will vote tomorrow and Saturday on whether to allow priests to bless homosexual unions. Similar efforts passed in 1988 and 2001, but Diocese of New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham withheld consent. If delegates to the diocesan synod pass the measure this time, however, Ingham says he'll approve it. New Westminster would then become the first Anglican diocese to officially bless homosexual relationships. The diocese is already in spin mode, emphasizing the difference between blessing and marriage ceremonies, but conservatives in the diocese—especially Asians—say they'll probably split if the measure is approved.

More articles on homosexuality:

• Sweden okays same-sex adoption plan | Gay activists say it's a step toward gaining the full benefits of marriage (Associated Press)
  
  
• Scouts caught in clash over gay policy | Unitarians want to exclude group for excluding homosexuals (Associated Press)
  
  
• Left out of church | Gay group seeks equal rights. (Newsday)
  
  
• Church calls acts 'disordered,' gays feel 'blamed' | Homosexual activists gather outside bishops' meeting in Dallas (USA Today)

Divorce may have been motive for monastery shooterLloyd Robert Jeffress, the 71-year-old man who shot four monks then killed himself at a Missouri abbey Monday, was probably upset about a 43-year-old divorce, authorities said yesterday. "We don't know if we'll ever be able to say this is the motive, but it sure could be," Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Sheldon Lyon told reporters. "It seems to be a pretty plausible reason why he did this. It's not 100 percent; there's no note or anything. … This is the only area in his life where he was very mad, at the church and his ...