Justin welby gay
Archbishop Justin Welby's gay sex comments spark backlash
'All sexual activity should be within a committed relationship, whether it's straight or gay'
By Christian Today
Evangelicals have expressed "disbelief" at comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury in which he claimed that gay sex is not sinful if it is within a devoted relationship.
Archbishop Justin Welby made the comments on "The Rest is Politics" podcast hosted by former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and former Tory MP Rory Stewart.
Campbell used the podcast to pose a similar question to one he had asked Archbishop Welby in a interview for GQ magazine about whether he believed gay sex was sinful.
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Asked if he now had a "better answer" to that question, Welby said he did: "What the Archbishop of York and I, and the bishops, by a majority, by no means unanimous, and the Church [of England] is deeply split over this — where we've come to is to
Last week, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury since , started leading the Church of England. He got off the fence on homosexuality and backed a major change to the Church’s teaching. He said that that ‘all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship, whether it’s straight or gay&#;. This obviously goes against the Church’s existing official teaching, that sex should not occur outside of heterosexual marriage. The Church is now likely to change that teaching fairly swiftly – probably next year. I predict that Synod will affirm equal marriage within three years.
This shift comes after about 25 years of painful paralysis. At the close of the last century it was already clear to most bishops that reform was needed, that the Church’s condemnation of homosexuality was an embarrassment.
The debate should be framed like this: should the Church affirm monogamous homosexual unions?
So why the slowness? Most liberals point to the deep-rooted homophobia of one section of the Church, and the shape of the Africa-heavy Anglican Communion. Sure. But I think that much
Forget Nixon in China. That phrase needs renaming: Welby on sexuality.
For it is now at last clear that he has shifted his position on homosexuality. Talking to The Rest is Politics podcast this week, he finally came out with it. He is not, as we all assumed, a conservative in the awkward position of presiding over a Church that is pursuing reform. He has quietly changed his mind.
He is not, as we all assumed, a conservative in the awkward position of presiding over a Church that is pursuing reform
In the last year or two, he has hinted that he is on a journey, moving away from the conservative position that he has taken throughout his career, but he has never quite clarified. Before that, of course, he was a clear advocate of the conservative evangelical line: the Church only affirms sex within heterosexual marriage.
Since February last year, his position has implicitly shifted. For he has remained in post, as Synod has introduced a new policy, that the Church may bless same-sex couples. The evangelicals see this as undermining the traditional teaching. No, Welby
Church of England says no to gay marriage but Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes blessings for same-sex couples in historic first
The Church of England has said it will bless same-sex couples for the first time but still won't allow gay marriages in its churches.
Same-sex couples will now be able to attend church services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and God's blessing following a legal marriage ceremony.
The Church's bishops met on Tuesday to make final recommendations on its position on sexuality, after five years of debate and consultation produced a report.
Their consensus was that holy matrimony exists only between a man and a woman and this would not change.
Nor would it be lay to a vote at the General Synod in London next month.
But by supporting blessings, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Church was attempting to "seek the common good". However, he admitted it would "go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others".
He said: "I expectation it can offer a way for the Church of England, publicly and unequivocally, to tell to all