First Clergy Same-sex Union for Ireland – It’s Anglican, of Course…

A ‘Very Reverend’ Dean in the Church of Ireland has decided to enter into a civil union with his boyfriend:

First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.

The Dean of Leighlin Cathedral in the Diocese of Cashel & Ossory has become the first serving Church of Ireland clergyman to enter a same-sex civil partnership in the Republic of Ireland.

The public announcement of the Dean’s same-sex civil partnership and his Bishop’s apparent support for the move is likely to pitch the Church of Ireland into the same battle that has torn apart the Episcopal Church and has the potential to divide the Irish church, sources tell CEN.

In an interview with BBC Ulster, the Very Rev Tom Gordon stated he and his partner held the ceremony in a registry office in July. Unlike the Church of England, which requires clergy who have entered same-sex civil partnerships to remain celibate, the Church of Ireland has not taken a position on the matter.

However Dean Gordon said his bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Burrows knew of his domestic arrangements and had been informed before the ceremony that it would take place.

Ireland’s Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 1 January 2011, and the first registered partnership took place on 7 February 2011. The tax code was also amended in July 2011 under the Finance (No. 3) to create parity in taxation mattes between civil partnerships and marriage.

Canon Charles Kenny of Changing Attitude Ireland said Dean Gordon’s civil partnership was “evidence of the growing visibility and acceptance of same-sex couples within the Church of Ireland”…

There is more here.

But another reason to flee unholy apostate Anglicanism

Australia to Return Egyptian Archaeological Artefacts

The Canberra Times reports:

A hoard of stolen ancient Egyptian artefacts were yesterday returned to Egypt after a whirlwind few months of travel.

Office for the Arts representative Sally Basser handed the 122 artefacts to ambassador Omar Metwally in Canberra on behalf of Arts Minister Simon Crean.

Australian authorities originally seized the items in Melbourne at an auction house in November.

The ancient artefacts had been smuggled from Egypt to Australia.

Secretary to the ambassador, Ahmed Abu Moussa, said they were notified of the objects’ location in Australia thanks to the internet.

Both the Egyptian and Australian governments have worked together to ensure the items were safely returned to Egypt, where they would be tested and verified by Egyptian authorities.

The objects range from miniature amulets to larger pieces and come from the Neolithic and Greco-Roman eras, dating from about 146BC to 415AD…

More here.

HT:  Egyptology blog