Conservative Judaism Eases Ban on Gay Rabbis

Conservative Judaism Eases Ban on Gay Rabbis

NEW YORK (AP) - Four of the 25 members of a panel that has opened the door for gay rabbis in Conservative Judaism have resigned in protest.

The movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards adopted several conflicting policies.

One upholds the prohibition against gay rabbis, but another permits gay ordination and allows blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples while maintaining a ban on male sodomy.

Conservative Jewish seminaries and synagogues can decide which policy to follow.

Four committee members who wanted to uphold the ban on ordaining gays, which has thousands of years of Jewish precedent, resigned in protest after the vote.

It's unclear whether any synagogues will break away over the gay issue.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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