Earlier this week, Bermuda's top Anglican cleric admitted that he did not approve of remarriage for divorced people.

But Bishop Ewen Ratteray -- contrary to some reports -- did not banned his priests from marrying divorcees.

Bishop Ratteray told priests in a special circular: "For all of my ministry I have believed that marriage is an indissoluble union of man and woman which only death has the power to terminate.

"I believe this on the basis of scripture and the tradition of the church.

Though there are some difficult cases that challenge this view, yet I hold firmly to it.'' He added: "The Anglican church in this diocese has, since 1992, authorised the remarriage of those previously married.

"This presents me with something of a difficulty as I do not approve of the same.'' But he told parish priests that he was changing the previous rules on the subject to allow parish priests to make up their own minds on couples without referring to him for a decision.

He told local priests: "As there has been some Episcopal involvement in the process heretofore, I must make clear what I require in this regard.'' Bishop Ratteray said he must be made aware of the details in each case of marriage involving a divorced person and that no marriages were to take place without his knowledge.

And he said that the option of a blessing of a civil marriage should be explained as "a viable option''.

But Bishop Ratteray appeared to apply some pressure on priests to share his views about marriage and divorce.

He said: "Each of you acts for me in the parish situation -- I trust that I can rely upon you to act in ways that reflect such an understanding.'' He also said that the marriage of people from overseas should be "discouraged'' unless they had gone through pre-marital counselling abroad or took time to complete a course on the Island.

And when interpreting the Bishop's views, two Anglican priests pointed out a ban on outdoor weddings or blessings was not new -- just a restatement of existing church policy.

One said it had always been his understanding that marriage was a Christian sacrament which should take place in a consecrated church.

But the Anglican priest said: "There were a number of my colleagues who were prepared to do outdoor weddings.'' Most of Bermuda's major religious denominations do not have policies regarding remarriages and outdoor weddings.

The Rev. Malcolm Eve of St. Phillip AME told The Royal Gazette that the AME Church had no standard policy on divorced people remarrying in their churches.

"Some (pastors) in the conference do,'' he said. "Some don't. It's up to them.'' And Mr. Eve, the Presiding Elder of the AME Church, said there were AME ministers who perform weddings in settings other than a church.

He pointed out that some pastors performed weddings in locations like hotels and parks.

"Once again, it is up to the pastors whether they perform them or not,'' Eve added.

The Rev. Victor Macleod of Ebenezer Methodist Church in St. George's said the Methodist Church had no set rules on divorcees remarrying in the church.

"It depends on the situation,'' he said.

Rev. Macleod explained that the decision of whether to conduct a remarriage rest with the Spiritual Interest Committee of each parish.

"It is up to the Spiritual Interest Committee of each church,'' Rev. Macleod pointed out, "since couples usually marry in their own parish, where they live.'' He said the couple would visit the pastor of the church, who would in turn go to the Spiritual Committee. Then a decision would be made.

"What we aim for all individuals is a wholeness of being,'' Rev. Macleod added. "We recognise that not all couples can reach the mark.'' The Rev. Malcolm Eve