Clergy should be permitted to provide a public service to mark same-sex relationships, a House of Bishops working group has recommended.
The recommendations in The Report of the House of Bishops Working Group on Human Sexuality, known as “the Pilling report” after the group’s chairman, Sir Joseph Pilling, are modest. They speak of the need for “pastoral accommodation”, but do not propose any change in the Church’s teaching on sexual conduct. Although the report does not speak of “blessing” gay relationships, Sir Joseph said on Thursday that he would not write a letter of complaint to a journalist who used such a term.
Other recommendations include repentance for homophobia within the Church, the avoidance of “intrusive questioning”, and further debate…