The Church of England's governing body will deliberate on how priests could carry out blessings for same-sex couples when it gathers in the cathedral city of York for a five-day meeting on Friday.
The assembly of bishops, clergy and laity - called the General Synod - is also due to discuss on Saturday how to protect vicars who might choose not to pray over the union of same-sex couples.
Divisions have run deep for decades on how the centuries-old institution - mother church for the world's 85 million Anglicans across 165 countries - deals with homosexuality and same-sex unions. Homosexuality is taboo in Africa and illegal in more than 30 countries there. Bishop Sarah Mullally told reporters last month: "This has not been an easy period for people right across a range of traditions and we know that has maybe been harder since February than it may have been before.", and that there would be protection for those who "on grounds of conscience" choose not to bless same-sex couples.Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists have long been fighting for the same rights as fellow Christians who are heterosexual.
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