"Stan thought it was a very bizarre gay date, but we were both interested in theology," said Finley, 35 and a candidate for ordination in the Episcopal Church. "When the monk came by with the holy water I saw Stan take what I assumed was a deep and profoundly pious bow. Later I realized it was because he was wearing a suede waistcoat which he didn't want to get stained," he told the Times.

The reporter described Finley as an "affable preppy" from a blue blood Massachusetts family that was staunchly Republican "until the second Bush administration." McGee is a Harvard Law School graduate and a former Rhodes scholar who works as a junior partner in the Boston offices of WilmerHale. He has a passion for Democratic politics rooted in the Deep South and has long been interested in the "pernicious connection" between church and state, he told the Times.

McGee said that Finley had more of a sense of faith being a positive force. "He is more impetuous, more Gestalt, more big picture. We're more yin-yang, more complimentary, than opposites. John's all sugar and I'm all lemon zest."

The day after their first date McGee sent Finley a dozen red roses; Finley sent McGee two dozen, reported the Times.

During a visit to the Finley family in Brookline, Stan's mother commented on a family portrait of Finley's grandmother: "Your grandmother is very beautiful." Finley replied, "With a fur and pearls I could look just as beautiful." From behind the bar came a crash. Stan had dropped a tray of oysters.

Both men moved into an apartment in Boston and made plans to wed under Massachusetts law. A civil marriage ceremony paired with a religious service was planned at the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, the Episcopal parish where Finley's family are longtime members.

On the day of their wedding State Senator Barrios, who officiated at the ceremony, pronounced the couple "fully and legally married". Bishop Shaw then presided over the Eucharist.

VirtueOnline wrote an e-mail to Bishop Shaw asking about his involvement in a Eucharist for this gay couple and if this was in violation of the Windsor Report that asked that such rites and actions not be undertaken as the Episcopal Church has been asked to withdraw itself from the Anglican Consultative Council to discern its future. Would you please tell me why you performed this act in contravention to the expresses wishes of the Eames Commission report? Bishop Shaw did not reply.

END