SOUTH CAROLINA: Charleston Parish Sends Regret Letter To All Saints Church

By David W. Virtue

CHARLESTON, SC--The rectors of one of the largest parish churches in the

Diocese of South Carolina has sent a letter of personal regret to AMIA Bishop

Chuck Murphy and to the rector of All Saints Church, Waccamaw for its decision

to withdraw from the diocese. The Rev. Marc Boutan, associate rector of St. Philips Church, a flagship parish in the heart of Charleston, said some 15 clergy and laity signed a letter saying, We, some of your fellow clergy of the Diocese of South Carolina, gathered coincidentally for the Anglican Communion Institute at St. Philips Church, wish to convey our deep sorrow over this loss.

Although we have been separated to some extent by the legal actions you have taken against the Diocese over the land issue, your friendship, your talent, your vitality and leadership in the cause of Jesus Christ over the years have been wonderful gifts to us -- not something we can relinquish easily. We hate to see our alliance come to this end. We will miss your participation in our common life.

We wish you would reconsider your decision. We need your voice along with

ours to stand for the historic Christian faith against the tide of revisionism.

We appeal to you give the Anglican Communion an opportunity to discipline

ECUSA, and then move together toward the best solution.

Fondly in Christ,

Rev. Haden McCormick, rector

Rev. arc Boutan, Associate rector

(15 Signatures followed after this letter.)

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Catholic lawyers urged to fight gay marriage

BOSTON (AP) Archbishop Sean P. OMalley yesterday urged Catholic lawyers to oppose same-sex marriage, saying the institution of marriage and the family are under assault and lawyers need to help protect them. The social cost of the breakdown of family life has already been enormous, Archbishop OMalley said at the annual Red Mass, which is dedicated to judges, lawyers and others in the legal system.

It’s not a question of live and let live, its a question of right and wrong, Archbishop OMalley said.

Later, in an interview, he said: We hope that [Catholic lawyers and judges] will use their profession and their understanding of the law to defend marriage. They’re in a better position than any of us to understand what needs to be done to correct a very complicated situation that the court has put us in.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that the state cannot deny marriage rights to same-sex couples, a ruling applauded as a civil rights milestone by homosexual activists. The court gave the Legislature six months to pass a law that complies with the ruling.

At a Catholic Lawyers Guild luncheon following the Mass, former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork assailed the Massachusetts ruling, calling it untethered from the state and federal constitutions.

If anything justifies the term judicial tyranny, this one does,said Mr. Bork, who converted to Catholicism last year.

Gary Buseck, executive director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment on Archbishop OMalleys statements.

Archbishop OMalley was installed July 30 as the head of the Boston Archdiocese, which has an estimated 2.1 million parishioners.

His first priority was to settle hundreds of clergy sex-abuse lawsuits filed by people who accused priests of molesting them, and the archdiocese of covering up the scandal. In September, the church agreed to an $85 million settlement.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040112-123616-4956r.htm