By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star) Updated June 26, 2011 12:00 AM
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – At least 10 couples are exchanging vows today as the City of Pines holds its first mass same-sex wedding.
After 2 p.m., the couples will be pronounced “partners for life,†veering away from the conventional “husband and wife†pronouncements.
The Catholic Church, though eerily silent, is obviously angry at the turn of events.
“These unions are an anomaly,†said Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Baguio-Benguet Vicariate.
Baguio witnessed its first same-sex wedding in November 2003. Today, the city will experience the first mass same-sex wedding, preceding the 5th Baguio Lesbian, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade.
“Marriage is for man and woman. What is wrong is wrong. This is an insult to the institution (of marriage) and we should not support such,†Cenzon said.
He added that the Church and Filipino society cannot accept such an anomaly because “it is a disorder.â€
Unperturbed, the Metropolitan Community Church of Metro Baguio (MCCMB) is hosting the mass same-sex wedding and has prepared out pre-wedding counseling before the event in various areas in the country.
It has also handed out to interested LGBT couples their own “Requirements for Holy Union.â€
“We should pity these people. They are probably having a hard time. Although we can understand them as we are trying to accept them, however, unions (as husbands and wives) are not exceptions (to the Church). Accepting LGBTs are not synonymous to accepting them also in their sexual activities,†Cenzon said.
Eight years ago, David and Alex (not their real names), both professionals, exchanged wedding vows and rings in front of their families and friends.
David, a cultural arts worker, and Alex, a business consultant, formalized their relationship in a holy union officiated by Fr. Richard Mickley, founder of the Order of St. Aelred and known to have officiated same-sex marriages elsewhere in the country
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