Your editorial (17 November) on the Church of England’s General Synod vote to allow standalone services for gay and lesbian couples after marriage elsewhere refers to “blessings”. While the prayers to be offered are requests for blessing, they are not a proclamation of blessing as in the marriage service. The bishops and liturgists have repeatedly told us they are not, and we should believe them. The bishops demand no rings, no naming of the legal relationship that the couple have begun, and no other gestures or hints of the reality of the marriage formed are to be allowed.
Gay and lesbian couples are going to be misled about this, of course. Progressive clergy are pretending this is a victory, that the C of E has agreed to accept gay relationships and will cheerfully offer these non-blessings to gay couples – gaslighting them about the reality of what is on offer. The reality is that it is far less than promised, far short of equality, and both an insult to the couple and a lie about the church’s acceptance of their marriage.
