Archbishop says factions fighting within Church on same-sex marriage are doing ‘Devil’s work’

Feb 24, 2024 by Jill

by Tom Sigsworth, Telegraph:

Justin Welby calls for unity after being flooded with hate mail on contentious subject.

The Church of England’s infighting factions are doing the “Devil’s work” by seeing each other as their enemies, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said amid an ongoing debate over same-sex marriage.

The Most Rev Justin Welby made a call for unity in his opening address at the church’s General Synod on Friday as he said “malign forces” were at work in its divisions.

He said Lambeth Palace was regularly deluged by hate mail that was “normally coming from within the Church”.

The Church’s divisions between conservatives and liberals have been brought to the fore amid a protracted debate over same-sex marriage.

Last year, the Church voted to trial blessings for same-sex couples who have had civil weddings or partnerships.

Gay couples remain prohibited from tying the knot in church and vicars are not officially allowed to be in civil partnerships, although this rule is not uniformly observed or enforced.

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