AMICUS CURIAE EPISCOPALIAS in California's Prop 8 case

An amicus curiae is someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it.

An AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF was filed this week on behalf of .. among others ... THE EPISCOPAL BISHOPS OF CALIFORNIA AND LOS ANGELES.

You can read it all here ... but here's the part about the Episcopalians:

Bishop Bruno’s Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles encompasses 85,000 Episcopalians in 147 congregations located in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. Served by some 400 clergy, the Diocese also includes some 40 Episcopal schools and some 20 social service and chaplaincy institutions.

The Episcopal Church’s governing body, its General Convention, resolved in 2006 to “oppose any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions.” Bishop Andrus and Bishop Bruno welcomed the decision of the California Supreme Court with Bishop Andrus declaring: “All children of God should be afforded the same rights under the law, and this decision recognizes that all Californians, regardless of sexual orientation, have equal access to one of our fundamental human institutions. This decision gives our church another opportunity to partner with our state to ensure that all families have the support they need to build relationships that strengthen our communities, state and country.”

Meeting last year in Anaheim, the Episcopal Church’s General Convention expressly authorized “bishops, particularly in those dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, [to] provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church while the Episcopal Church considers formal changes to its liturgy and canon law. Under this authorization, amici curiae Bishop Andrus and Bishop Bruno, along with Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real and Bishop James Mathes of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, permit their clergy to provide liturgical blessings to same-sex couples.

Speaking up. Stepping out. Letting their light so shine.

THANK YOU Bishop Andrus and Bishop Bruno. The kingdom is a little closer for your witness ... liberty and justice for all a little closer to reality for your advocacy.