Liverpool Anglican Bishop James Jones has broken ranks with other senior Church of England clergy to call for blessing services to be offered to same-sex couples in civil partnerships.

‘Over the years I have shared with you my thinking about how the gospel of embrace may be felt by those who are gay,’ Jones said in an address to the Diocese of Liverpool Synod.

A clear majority of Americans now believe that same-sex marriage throughout the United States is an inevitability with almost as many believing the issue to be one of civil rights.

Christian polling company LifeWay found that 64 percent of Americans thought that same-sex marriage would become legal throughout the nation whether they agreed with it or not, while 58 percent agreed that it was a civil rights issue.

A 65-year-old former nurse has delivered a withering telling off to the Archbishop of Westminster – England’s most senior Catholic – for his stance on gay marriage.

The woman, who now works with animals and lives in northern England, says she has been married for 30 years but gay marriage doesn’t threaten the status of her relationship whatsoever.

And she says Archbishop Vincent Nichols and his church have become obsessed with gay sex, ignoring the real problems of society – the economy, schools, hospitals and our children’s future.

The Washington National Cathedral, one of the world’s largest, historic and iconic places of worship will solemnise same-sex weddings, according to a statement published today (9 January).

As the one of the most prominent US churches and the US seat of the Episcopal Church, the decision has a tremendous symbolic value.

The 106-year-old cathedral inaugurates new presidents, conducts official services where Americans gather to mourn tragedies, will be among first Episcopal congregations to allow gay couples to wed.

Maria Miller, the UK minister for women and equalities, has unveiled the government’s proposal for marriage equality in England and Wales.

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Culture Secretary confirmed same-sex marriage will be allowed in churches and other religious buildings as long as they wish to hold them.

Miller said the government would ensure the necessary legal safeguards were in place to ensure religious organisations were not forced to conduct gay weddings because of fears of a legal challenge.

An online petition had managed to attracted over 30,000 signatories against Scotland's proposed marriage equality bill.

The Scottish Government announced in July that it proposes bringing in legislation for marriage equality, which will allow same-sex couples to the right wed as their straight counterparts.

Scottish Ministers declared that it is the ‘right thing to do’ in a move that received widespread support from the public, equality, human rights and faith campaigners.