Anglican primate in Canada says bishop’s same-sex marriage comments inaccurate

The head of the Anglican Church of Canada says a bishop in eastern Newfoundland was wrong to suggest the church’s hierarchy is unlikely to allow same-sex marriages largely because of resistance from aboriginal bishops.

“It’s not only indigenous bishops who would hold a conservative view on the blessing of same-sex marriages,” Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate of the Canadian wing of the church, said Friday.

“There are many others in the Canadian house of bishops who would also hold a conservative view … To just say this is not likely to get approved … because of the indigenous voice, I think that’s just not accurate.”

Peddle made his comments earlier this week during an interview broadcast across Newfoundland and Labrador by radio station VOCM. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

“So many of us are First Nations and aboriginal people (and) some of our bishops are First Nations … They are not prepared to move forward with the marriage equality change,” Peddle told VOCM.

“It is cultural and theological for them that marriage remain between a man and a woman. Most of the rest of us can see how there is a way to move forward, but they weren’t prepared to do that and they represent a big part of the house of bishops.”

There are 45 Anglican bishops in Canada. Four of them are aboriginal.

Hiltz, who is an archbishop, said the aboriginal bishops have made it clear the people they represent are predominantly opposed to same-sex marriage. But he stressed they aren’t the only bishops who hold this view.

In July, bishops from the Anglican Church of Canada and representatives from its clergy and laity will gather for a General Synod, which is the national organization’s highest governing body.

On the agenda is a resolution aimed at changing the church’s marriage canon to allow same-sex marriage. Altering the canon requires two-thirds support from each of the three main groups — bishops, clergy and laity — over the course of two meetings held three years apart.

Earlier this week, the bishops issued a statement saying it was unlikely the group would provide the number of votes needed to change the rules.

The statement did not mention where the aboriginal bishops stood, but it did cite “deep differences” within the group that left some feeling “mortified and devastated.”

“You can’t pin that to the three indigenous bishops,” Hiltz said, adding that the bishops’ statement does not mean the issue will be shelved.

In the end, he said, some bishops may change their minds because each will be guided by their own conscience, their interpretation of the debate and inspiration from prayer and the Holy Spirit.

As for Hiltz, he said he holds a “liberal view” of the issue, but he said he also has an obligation to focus on the unity of the church.

“My responsibility is to hold us all together and continue the conversation,” he said.

There are 1.6 million Canadians who identify themselves as Anglican, according to census figures. The church has 545,000 Canadians registered on its parish rolls.

The 85-million strong Anglican communion, a fellowship rooted in the Church of England, has been fracturing for decades over gay relationships and women’s ordination.

The Episcopal Church — the Anglican body in the United States —voted last year to authorize gay marriages in their churches.

Anglicans in Brazil, South Africa and some other countries have also expressed openness to accepting same-sex relationships.