Church of England drops opposition to gay ‘marriage’ bill

Church of England drops opposition to gay ‘marriage’ bill

LEICESTER, England — Bishops in the Church of England who had strenuously opposed a bid to allow same-sex “marriage” signaled they will not try to derail the bill after an overwhelming vote of support in the House of Lords.

Church of England spokesman Steve Jenkins said that in the same way the church will eventually allow women bishops, England will eventually allow same-sex “marriage.”

“It doesn’t mean the Church of England is happy, but that’s where our government is going,” Jenkins said. “Now it’s about safeguarding people’s right to hold religious beliefs.”

Tim Stevens, the Bishop of Leicester who leads the bishops in the House of Lords, issued a statement June 5, one day after the parliament’s upper house voted 390–148 against an amendment to kill the gay “marriage” bill. The bill will now go into committee where bishops — who hold 26 seats in the upper chamber — will attempt to insert amendments to add protections for teachers or other workers who object on religious grounds. The bill passed the House of Commons on a vote of 366 to 161.