Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1993 11:32:52 EST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu

Bob Morris, a volunteer with Hawaii's same sex marriage project,
wrote a review for project volunteers of John Boswell's lecture to
Integrity, Inc., General Convention of the Episcopal Church, July 6,
1988.  John Boswell is Professor of European History at Yale and author
of ``Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality'' (University
of Chicago Press, 1980).  The lecture was an early preview of Professor
Boswell's forthcoming book on the long history of Roman Catholic
blessing of a variety of same-sex unions among which continues to be
marriage.  Please contact your local chapters of Integrity or
of Dignity (Roman Catholics) to find a video-taped copy of the 1988
lecture (or visit the marriage project in Honolulu!).  Here's a
paraphrase of Morris' review:

     For almost 1,500 years, starting as early as the 4th century,
the sacrament of same-sex marriage was recognized and celebrated by
the Catholic Church.  In fact, such marriages were performed in
churches according to a written liturgy LONG BEFORE opposite-sex
marriages were performed in churches, and are still performed today
in some areas.

     In a forthcoming book, Professor John Boswell will explain
numerous liturgical texts which describe sacramental marriage ceremonies
for same-sex couples.  These were marriages in every sense:  social,
legal, spiritual, and physical.

     What did such a liturgy look and sound like?

     The scriptural basis for the ceremony was Psalm 132 ("it is
good for brothers to dwell together") and I Corinthians 13 (Paul's
psalm on love).  The scriptures and liturgy speak of unselfishness,
love unfeigned (agape), and unashamed fidelity.  The partners held
crowns over each others' heads or performed other rituals of mutual
blessing.

     The role models were the lovers, SERGE and BACCHUS.  They are
authorized saints of the Roman Catholic Church.  They were soldiers
in the Roman army whose devotion to each other was legendary.  When
the emperor demanded that they worship the state gods, Serge and
Bacchus refused to deny the ``one true God'' and Jesus Christ.

     For this, Serge and Baccus wer horribly tortured and put to
death AS CHRISTIAN MARTYRS.  Bacchus, who died first, appeared to
Serge in a vision, saying:  ``Because of your good and perfect
fidelity, you will have a crown of justice.  Your reward in heaven
is me.''

     A whole body of canon and civil law developed around these
marriages and the families they created.  Such marriages were performed
IN ROME until the mid-18th century.  Then, while the church was
still marrying same-sex couples, the civil government began burning
the partners at the stake.  It was only later that the Church adopted
the civil government's long night of homophobia.  A same-sex marriage
ceremony remains an officially approved rite of the Roman Catholic
Church.

                                    Merry Christmas!
                                    Tom Ramsey, Phone Tree Coord.
                                    GLCC, Marriage Project
                                    1820 University Ave., Room 8
                                    Honolulu, HI 96822
                                    phone:  (808)942-3737