The Church apologized to homosexuals. "We did not love you as God loves you," the bishops said in an open letter. But they won't allow marriages anyway

"We want to apologise for the way the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people. To those who attend our churches and to those who do not," the bishops' statement read. "We deeply apologise for the times we have rejected and ostracised you or your loved ones. The situations in which you have received hostile and homophobic reactions in our churches are shameful and we regret them. We assure you, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQI+ people are welcome and valued. We are all children of God."

Despite such positive statements and recognition towards queer people, the Church of England continues to insist that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman. However, it has suggested that same-sex couples can request a service and blessing after they enter into a civil marriage or civil partnership. In England and Wales, same-sex couples have been allowed to marry since 2013.

But not everyone sees the apology as a net positive. According to Stonewall, an organisation that lobbies for queer people, the Church of England has once again failed to be inclusive and supportive of LGBT+ people. "An apology doesn't do much when so many LGBTQ+ Christians have faced hostility and discrimination for who they are," the organisation told Reuters.