The Episcopal bishop in Western Washington, in sharp disagreement with Catholic prelates, believes that same-sex marriage is "a conservative proposal" that should be adopted "not only in our society but in our church."

"It seems to me we have held our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in a Catch-22," the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, argues in a blog post published without fanfare to the diocesan website.