Canadian Anglicans reject blessing same-sex unions

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada narrowly overruled clergy and laypeople on Sunday to defeat a proposal to give churches the option of blessing same-sex unions.

The issue has threatened to split both the Canadian church and the 77-million member Worldwide Anglican Communion, a loose federation of national churches around the world whose members do not agree on how the 450-year-old church should minister to homosexuals.

The Canadian bishops voted 21 opposed to 19 in favour of giving churches the option of blessing same-sex unions. Clergy and laity voted in favour by larger margins, but the proposal had to pass in all three orders to be implemented.

Orthodox Anglicans believe sex outside of heterosexual marriage is contrary to Biblical teachings. But liberal Anglicans believe in a broader reading of scripture.

- REUTERS