The Church of England has officially apologized to the LGBTQI+ community for its treatment, the AP news agency reported on Friday. The religious authority, however, reaffirmed that same-sex couples will not be able to marry in their churches.
This apology comes from the bishops of the Church of England, of which King Charles III is the head. They were revealed in a report on sexuality, after five years of debate on this issue. The latter will be presented to the national assembly of the church that will meet in London next February.
“The homophobic reactions in our churches are shameful”
“We want to apologize for the way the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people, both in our churches and outside of them,” the bishops said in a statement.
And to add: “We deeply regret the times when we have rejected or excluded you or your loved ones. The hostile and homophobic reactions in our churches are shameful and we repent.”
However, the Church of England’s position on marriage for same-sex couples will remain the same. Instead, the bishops only offered couples access to a religious service with prayers, divine blessing or thanksgiving after a civil marriage.
In England and Wales, same-sex civil marriage has been legal since 2013.
Source: BFM TV
