The Church of England on Wednesday outlined proposals that may refuse same-sex marriages in its church buildings, persevering with to show that marriage is between “one man and one woman for life,” it mentioned in a assertion. The choice got here after 5 years of debate.
While the Bishops of the Church of England are set to problem a proper apology later this week to “LGBTQI+ people for the ‘rejection, exclusion and hostility’ they have faced in churches and the impact this has had on their lives,” learn the assertion, the centuries-old establishment will nonetheless not permit same-sex {couples} to be married in a rustic the place same-sex marriage has been authorized since 2013.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP through Getty Images
Instead, the Church will provide a service that would come with “prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God’s blessing on the couple in church following a civil marriage or partnership.” The use of the prayers can be voluntary for clergy, which the church says will mirror its “theological diversity.”
This is the primary time blessings can be allowed within the Church for same-sex, civil marriages.
“Both personally and on behalf of my fellow bishops I would like to express our deep sorrow and grief at the way LGBTQI+ people and those they love have been treated by the Church which, most of all, ought to recognise everyone as precious and created in the image of God,” mentioned Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York.
“We are deeply sorry and ashamed and want to take this opportunity to begin again in the spirit of repentance which our faith teaches us.”
Jayne Ozanne, a British LGBTQ+ activist, mentioned the Church’s choice was “utterly despicable,” and referred to as Cottrell’s apology “hole.”
“I cannot believe that five years of pain and trauma has got us to here,” mentioned Ozanne on Twitter.
“We have had countless apologies over the years but no action to stop the harmful discrimination. It’s insulting to all who trusted the process.”
The General Synod will talk about the proposals through the Feb. 6–9 assembly, with the primary debate on the proposals to happen on Feb. 8.
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