WASHINGTON — A new Washington Post poll found that six in 10 Americans oppose the Episcopal Church’s decision to allow bishops to authorize the blessing of same-sex couples. And, in a sign of discomfort over recent victories by gay rights activists, nearly half — 47 percent — of respondents said they would look for a new church if their minister decided to bless same-sex couples. Forty-eight percent said they would stay at their church.
After approving the church’s first openly gay bishop, Episcopalians voted Aug. 7 to “recognize” that gay unions already occur within the church’s “common life.” The church declined, however, to draft liturgies that would be used in such ceremonies. Sixty percent of respondents said they opposed the church’s new policies, while 33 percent approved and 7 percent had no opinion. Three out of four frequent church attenders opposed the policy, according to The Post. On the larger question of granting gay couples the same legal benefits as married heterosexuals, 58 percent were opposed, 37 percent supported the idea and 5 percent had no opinion. The 37 percent in support of civil marriage rights was the lowest figure in three years, and represented a 12-point drop from a Gallup poll taken in May before the Supreme Court’s decision overturning sodomy laws.
(TAB)
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