Bishops have been warned that half measures short of embracing same-sex marriage risk 'creating a fog that will please no one'
The Church of England was likened to an “abusive partner” during an “uncomfortable” hours-long debate on Wednesday as it ruled out a push towards same-sex marriage in favour of watered-down reforms onThe Synod – known as the church’s parliament – is considering a motion which repents the church’s failure “to be welcoming to LGBT+ people” and the harm they have faced and still experience.
“We are saying no to discrimination. We are saying no to being talked about as a problem to be solved. Now is the time for same-sex marriage in the Church of England,” he said. But LGBT+ Christian campaigner Jayne Ozanne challenged bishops for attempting to apologise given their continued refusal to permit same-sex weddings.
An amendment urging the Church to bring forward full marriage equality brought by Ms Ozanne is likely to be voted down by bishops when the sitting resumes on Thursday. Parish priest Robert Lawrance said he hoped the bishops’ report would “create the conditions” to permit same-sex marriage in future, warning that the proposed blessings “risk creating a fog that will please no one” and leave people on all sides dissatisfied.
Synod member Vaughan Roberts of Oxford, who describes himself as “same-sex attracted” but abstains from sex because he believes it is only permitted inside “the marriage of a man and a woman”, told the debate: “The message will be, you needn’t have bothered.”
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