The Pastoral Letter of Bishops of the Anglican Diocese of Rio de Janeiro and the Anglican Diocese of Sao Paulo, the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil

Rio de Janeiro June 21, 2003

To the Clergy and People of both Dioceses

　 On the occasion of the first joint retreat of Clergy of two Dioceses , we undertook jointly, we want recall the guidance of the Pastoral Letter issued by the House of Bishops of this Church in 1997 on the human sexuality affirming "that
(1) sexuality is a gift from God and that the sexual intercourse exercise in the mutual love and respect not only should be accepted but also regarded as good things that God has created; Also the promiscuity among the people of the same gender as well as the different gender to be resisted;
(2) that the Church should welcome in love persons regardless of their race, culture, social class and sexual orientation;
(3) that the Church should include studies and orientation on human sexuality in its educational and pastoral programs."
　 Therefore, inspired by that Pastoral Letter, we make public our respect and esteem to the decisions recently taken by the Dioceses of New Westminister Canada, New Hampshire USA and by the Church of England electing next Bishop of Reading in Oxford diocese. Once again such challenging news take us to the theme of sexuality, taking into consideration peculiarities and relevance of those decisions in their own context and its effect on the people of our two dioceses.
　 We believe to be fundamental that the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil may fulfill its vocation for comprehensiveness, welcoming, in love and as a whole, those people who are rejected by the society. Therefore we commit ourselves to the Pastoral ethics of God's grace and blessing, urging that the Church should not neglect such challenge.
　 We pray for the strengthening of the fellowship in the Church. May the blessing of God be with the people and clergy under our care.

In Christ, Our Lord.

+Hiroshi Ito	+Celso Franco de Oliveira
Bishop of the Anglican Dioceseof Sao Paulo	Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Rio de Janeiro