Free Republic

* Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, implored members to vote for the motion * But the bishops rejected the move at a private meeting at Lambeth Palace * Dr Beardsley, of transgender group Sibyls, said many Christians would be hurtChurch of England bishops have blocked the introduction of a new prayer celebrating a transgender person's change of sex. The House of Bishops was strongly urged to draw up the 'baptism-style' services for sex-change Christians by the Church's 'Parliament', the General Synod, last summer. The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, was among senior figures who implored Synod members to vote for...

The Archbishop of York has given his backing to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s decision to live together before marriage.The Archbishop of York backed Prince William and Kate Middleton’s decision to live together before marriage, saying that many modern couples want to “test the milk before they buy the cow”. Dr John Sentamu argued that the royal couple’s public commitment to live their lives together today would be more important than their past. But Anglican traditionalists criticised the Archbishop, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, for failing to reinforce Christian teaching which prohibits sex outside marriage....