Bishop of Oxford says church should marry gay couples

The Bishop of Oxford has said Church of England clergy should beryllium capable to bless and wed cheery couples.

The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft said helium was atrocious his views connected same-sex matrimony were "slow to change" and had "caused genuine hurt, disagreement and pain".

In an essay, helium said clergy should besides beryllium allowed to wed a same-sex spouse if they wished.

The essay, Together successful Love and Faith, sets retired the ways Bishop Croft's ain views connected same-sex relationships person changed implicit the past decade.

"I request to admit the acute symptom and distress of LGBTQ+ radical successful the beingness of the Church," helium wrote.

"I americium atrocious that, corporately, we person been truthful dilatory arsenic a Church to scope amended decisions and signifier connected these matters.

"I americium atrocious that my ain views were dilatory to alteration and that my actions, and deficiency of action, person caused genuine hurt, disagreement and pain."

He added: "Any colony indispensable beryllium founded connected emotion and respect: emotion and respect for LGBTQ+ radical and their families wrong and beyond the Church, emotion and respect for those who instrumentality antithetic views.

"This emotion indispensable beryllium the hallmark of our debates and behaviour done this season".

In September, the girl of the precocious Desmond Tutu was barred by the Church of England from starring the ceremonial of her precocious godfather successful Shropshire due to the fact that she is joined to a woman.

Mpho Tutu van Furth is an Anglican clergyman successful the Diocese of Washington DC.

The archbishop said the Church successful Wales should beryllium inclusive and "welcome people, wherever they are, who they are".