THE Bishop of Penrith says he has a ‘traditional view’ of marriage after a group of 44 bishops issued a statement saying that they hope guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages would be issued 'without delay'.

Currently Church of England priests are not currently allowed to be in a same-sex marriage but last week, The Church Times reported that such guidance to allow same-sex marriage for priests existed in draft form, but that the House of Bishops had voted to delay its implementation for 'further work'.

The public statement from the 44 bishops said: "In all of this we long for the day when LGBTQIA+ people will know themselves to be unquestionably included in the life and all ministries of our Church, and the contributions of each one of us fully accepted and celebrated as simply the offering of a fellow Christian."

But in a letter to clergy in the Diocese of Carlisle, the Bishop of Penrith, the Right Reverend Rob Saner-Haigh, reiterated his view of ‘traditional marriage’ indicating he would not back same-sex marriages for clergy.

“This remains a hugely important issue which deeply divides the church,” wrote Bishop Rob.

“We disagree strongly yet have all come to our positions through prayer and reflection, through love for our neighbour and our desire for others to know Jesus Christ and to follow him.

“As many of you know, I hold to a traditional view of marriage, and also long for a church where everyone will know the Lord’s welcome and support one another on that sometimes-costly road.

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“I recognise the integrity and care held by all sides of this debate and promise to do all I can to enable this diocese to be a safe space in which we can be honest with one another, listen well, disagree with respect and prayerfully seek a way through.

“Please may I ask us to continue to pray for one another, especially those with whom we disagree, that the Lord will move in our hearts (not necessarily to change them to our own opinion!) and help us to find a way through that speaks to an increasingly divided world of costly unity, of God’s invitation, grace and forgiveness?”

The church continues to have discussions over the use of prayers to bless same-sex marriage and the topic will come up at the next meeting of General Synod.