Anglican bishop: Bless gay unions

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LIVERPOOL, England, March 16 (UPI) -- The Anglican bishop of Liverpool, England, says the Church of England should bless same-sex civil unions.

Bishop James Jones said in an address to the diocese synod the gospel "is embracing and inclusive."

"How has the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in spite of its global reach become so alienating and exclusive?" Jones asked.

Jones is part of the evangelical wing of the church, which also includes the archbishop of Canterbury. He is one of the highest-ranking church leaders to break ranks with its dim view of homosexual marriages, Britain's The Daily Telegraph said Saturday.

Jones, who is due to retire this year, stopped short of endorsing same-sex marriage but predicted history will not look kindly on orthodoxy that depended heavily on "whether or not one had a generous attitude to those who are gay."