Mordaunt calls on Church of England to allow same-sex marriages

Before Tuesday’s meeting of bishops, Penny Mordaunt urged them to let parishes and clergy conduct weddings for same-sex couples. Photograph: Marc Mueller/EPA

The leader of the House of Commons has urged Church of England bishops to back same-sex marriage in critical talks this week, saying the church’s current stance causes “pain and trauma” to LGBTQ+ people.

Penny Mordaunt, the Conservative MP for Portsmouth who chairs the privy council, has written to her local bishop saying: “I hope you will back reform, allowing parishes and clergy to conduct weddings for same-sex couples or, at a minimum, enable authorised blessings.”