Church of England urged to offer same-sex blessings

Members of the clergy should be allowed to offer blessings to same-sex couples, a report commissioned by the Church of England has recommended.

The report, produced by four bishops and chaired by former civil servant Sir Joseph Pilling, does not propose offering a "formal liturgy".

But it says priests should be "free" to give gay couples a "public service".

The Church pointed out the report is for discussion and is "not a new policy statement from the Church of England".

The report says the Church must find "ways of honouring" gay Christians who "conscious of the Church's teaching, have embraced a chaste and single lifestyle, and also those who in good conscience have entered partnerships with a firm intention of life-long fidelity".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25141239