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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Harriet Sherwood

Church of England bishops refuse to back gay marriage

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
Justin Welby: ‘I am under no illusions that what we are proposing will appear to go too far for some and not far enough for others.’ Photograph: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock

The Church of England has rejected demands to allow clergy to conduct same-sex marriages but is proposing that couples who married in a civil ceremony may have their union blessed in church.

The C of E released “historic plans” on Wednesday outlining a proposed way forward after decades of bitter and anguished division over sexuality. The proposal, endorsed by bishops this week, will be put to the C of E’s governing body, the General Synod, next month.

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