Rowan Williams believes that gay sexual relationships can “reflect the love of
God” in a way that is comparable to marriage, The Times has learnt.
Gay partnerships pose the same ethical questions as those between men and
women, and the key issue for Christians is that they are faithful and
lifelong, he believes.
Dr Williams is known to be personally liberal on the issue but the strength of
his views, revealed in private correspondence shown to The Times, will
astonish his critics.
The news threatens to reopenbitter divisions over ordaining gay priests, which
pushed the Anglican Communion towards a split.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Williams recommitted the Anglican Communion to
its orthodox position that homosexual practice is incompatible with
Scripture at the Lambeth Conference, which closed on Sunday.
However, in an exchange of letters with an evangelical Christian, written
eight years ago when he was Archbishop of Wales, he described his belief
that biblical passages criticising homosexual sex were not aimed at people
who were gay by nature.
He argued that scriptural prohibitions were addressed to heterosexuals looking
for sexual variety. He wrote: “I concluded that an active sexual
relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the
love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had about it
the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.” Dr Williams
described his view as his “definitive conclusion” reached after 20 years of
study and prayer. He drew a distinction between his own beliefs as a
theologian and his position as a church leader, for which he had to take
account of the traditionalist view.
The letters, written in the autumn of 2000 and 2001, were exchanged with
Deborah Pitt, a psychiatrist and evangelical Christian living in his former
archdiocese in South Wales, who had written challenging him on the issue.
In reply, he described how his view began to change from that of opposing gay
relationships in 1980. His mind became “unsettled” by contact as a
university teacher with Christian students who believed that the Bible
forbade promiscuity rather than gay sex.
Dr Williams, who was ordained a priest in 1978, became a lecturer at Cambridge
two years later and was appointed Dean of Clare College in 1984.
He told Dr Pitt that by the end of the 1980s he had “definitely come to the
conclusion” that the Bible did not denounce faithful relationships between
people who happened to be gay.
He cited two academics as pivotal in influencing his view. One of them was
Jeffrey John, the celibate homosexual whom he later forced not to become
Bishop of Reading after an outcry from conservatives.
In his 1989 essay The Body’s Grace, Dr Williams argued that the Church’s
acceptance of contraception meant that it acknowledged the validity of
nonprocreative sex. This could be taken as a green light for gay sex.
Liberals have been bitterly disappointed that a man whom they regarded as
chosen to advance their agenda has instead abided by the traditionalist
consensus of the majority.
In the correspondence Dr Williams wrote of his regret that the issue had
become “very much politicised” and was treated by many as “the sole or
primary marker of Christian orthodoxy”.
Asked to comment yesterday, Lambeth Palace quoted a recent interview in which
the Archbishop said: “When I teach as a bishop I teach what the Church
teaches. In controverted areas it is my responsibility to teach what the
Church has said and why.”
RE: No one in this world was born with a gay nature (Michelle).
Let's not forget that Adam and Eve were cast from Eden and were imprinted with Sin; we are no longer the image of God and there is no way to know what the Image of God is. Enough with the homophobic anthropomorphisation.
James, Brisbane,
Hmm.
I think I must live in the clouds: everyone seems to be crazy. Both understandings make sense to me, and neither seem exclusive of one another. As a Christian, I live by love.
Thats what I thought Christianity was about, rather than sex.
Simon Davies, Norwich, UK
No one in this world was born with a gay nature, the Bible clearly states by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we each one were created in Gods image, so if you are saying that people are that way by nature then you are in essesence saying that about God Almighty, YOUR CREATOR.
Michelle, spring, USA
If the Archbishop of Cantebury is gullible enough to accept some extremely implausible theology but nevertheless acts in accordance with God's will perhaps there is hope for the Anglican Church yet.
John Bennett, Gympie,
How can people continue to support just a few of many Old Testament rulings? I should not be able to wear most of my clothes, which are woven from more than one material (Lev.19,v19), or eat my steak rare, as it holds blood (Lev.19,v26), yet am expected to denounce gay sex (Lev.18,v22). Ridiculous.
Henry, London, United Kingdom
homosexuality is not genetic or innate, but it is contagious. I don't care what consenting adults do with each other, but the homosexual agenda is hell-bent on recruiting our children. Children have the right to grow up and follow their genetic and innate heterosexual inclinations and not be groomed
George, Hinkley,
Dear Thomas of Kentfield,
A gay male is not a woman. Neither partner "plays the woman". Gay men are attracted to men, if they were attracted to women (or someone who pretends to be one), they'd be straight, not gay.
George, Blue Mountains, Australia.
We should try to love everybody. There are strong attractions towards either sex but how can we have rights to sexual activity that's not open to the possibility of life in the natural designs?
Father Bryan Storey, Tintagel, UK
I don't care how you interpret the Bible. All I care about is that I have the same feelings for men that straight men have for women, and I want to have the same opportunities to express them without fear of ostracism or violence. Sounds selfish, but all I'm demanding is equal rights.
Karl Bonner, Eugene, Oregon (US)
Rowan Williams has a sick and twinsted view of the truths of the bible. He is trying to rationalize his concept of the truth so that he may feel good about his immoral behavior. This is truly blind thinking and will lead him to even more moral decline.
J. Hopkins, Manchester, PA, USA
If I convinced myself I was an elephant, people would say I was crazy. Yet if a man thinks he's a woman people consider that a lifestyle? Yet it's not a lifestyle its just disorientation and confusion. You don't need to be a theologian to know the difference between what's true and what's false.
Thomas, Kentfield,
Dr. Williams did get one thing right, the acceptance of contraception, necessitates the acceptance of homosexual sex.
It is true that unchaste behavior makes us blind, it makes us morally blind. Contraceptive sex is a grave evil, unless we repent of that we will never see straight.
Christopher Chapman, Pittsburgh,
If the bible said men with red hair should be stoned,this would no doubt be debated for years by the great and the good. As always religion hangs on the tale of secular reason.
iain rae, Tunbridge Wells, u.k.
Whilst agreeing that the Bible teaches that sex is for marriage, (that also I believe, goes for heterosexuals as well as homosexuals) and by marriage I do mean one man and one women! I do feel though it is asking rather a lot to ask someone who is by nature gay to spend the rest of their life alone
Hazel Dennis, Rawtenstall, England
Mocking sacramental marriage for this fraud dismisses the story of man and woman--as told by Jesus Christ--as not even true, much less binding. A critical analogy applies here: If everthing is art, then nothing is necessary. Likewise, if all love is the same, marriage of any sort is pointless.
Gregory Solman, Crestline, California, USA
To give him credit, he is being consistent. As he said, this is actually the logical consequence of accepting contraception. The Lambeth conference paved the way for this in 1930 when they rejected 1900 years of unbroken Christian teaching.
Don Schloeder, Poway, CA, USA
It's too bad the good Archbishop has this conflicting attitude towards homosexuality (i.e., on the one hand church teaching and on the other hand, his personal views).
It seems to me that he, along with other liberal thinkers, are putting words into Christ's mouth! More, but have to end now.
Paul F. Scheckel, Pullman, U.S.A.
Sad news for the Church of England.He has shown confusion,cowardice and a deep lack of understanding as to his role as the Archbishop of Canterbury.His views are seldom in line with biblical teachings.His main concern seems to be inclusion at any cost.Jesus deserves better servants! :-(
David Boswell, Worcester, UK
Polly, you don't get how central love is to God's relationship with mankind. Marriage is central, not peripheral. Once you make that a truth in your own life, you stand a chance for happiness. Gay sexuality is sterile. It's not green. Contracepted heterosexual sex is sterile, too.
Janet Baker, Chicago, IL
The most decent thing we can do for our brothers and sisters of deviant sexual persuasion is to try help them by loving correction in accordance with the teaching of God in BOTH the old and new testaments( see 1Cor 6 vs 9-10). The unhelpful PC brigade are enslaving people to sins. R W must get out!
Erik, Durban, South Africa
Rowan Williams.
A bright guy but misguided and hopelessly spineless. A regular jelly-bowl. The Africans have truth and fire on their side. The so-called Western liberals have nothing, nothing, nothing at all.
John, Bel Air MD, USA
Why is the church wasting so much time on peripheral issues like homosexuality? Love is love, let's celebrate it everywhere we find it. The church could be such a powerful force for good if it concentrated on teaching the world about love + trying to eradicate cruelty, poverty, injustice.
Polly, Cotswolds, UK
The church's stance on homosexuality is disgusting discrimination against a minority group yet somehow is 'justified' by a few words written thousands of years ago. Instead of spending 20 years dissecting a few phrases, Williams should base his opinion on the real world and use his time better.
Camilla, Stanmore,
Nona of New York City says that Rowan Williams should be given a one way ticket back to Wales - No thank you. This land of Wales is better off without him. He should resign.
I agree with Richie Lionell, we do need to pray that God would have mercy, and send Revival as He did in 1904 in Wales
Mrs Margaret Elward, Bridgend, Glam
Homosexuality has always exisisted and as long as it isn't flaunted people should be left to get on with their own lives. I feel the aspect that upsets most people is the 'marriage' part . Marriage is meant to be the vehicle for procreation and gay marriage can't fulfil that the way nature intended
Anne, Guildford,
I agree with Adam Hunt that there is no god . Adam is a Humanist,believing in Life,Tolerance and acceptance of everyone. If the world was full of Humanists instead of greedy selfrighteous people it would be a happier and freer place.
pat wydell, storrington., uk.
A TV programme, saluting elderly soldiers prior to Remembrance Sunday were interviewing a man. When young, he’d kept his homosexuality secret because of ridicule.
Instead he stepped inside a church and prayed to God that he’d find a partner . 3 weeks later he did and today they're still together.
Alice Clare, Oxford, UK
Who cares about the ramblings of the leader of an ancient institution which is full of ritualistic mumbo jumbo. Just try to live a god-fearing and moral life, and ignore the random noise that comes from the so-called spiritual leaders. The Church of England is run only for the benefit of its clergy.
Ed, London, U.K.
I find this man an abomination since he supports what the Bible calls an abomination. Marriage, according to Christ, is only between a man and a woman as God ordained it from the beginning. This guy should be removed and replaced with a Christ centered Bible believer. He is without excuse.
Ralph E. Zecco, Socorro, USA
It always amazes me that people will get so hotly defensive of old testament injunctions while ignoring the teachings of Christ.
If you want take the Bible literally take all of it literally and don't cast stones unless you are completely without sin.
Rowan Williams has my utmost respect.
Rae, Cardiff,
I think we should stop arguing and realise that God will judge us for how we treat people in this life, and it's eventually up to him to judge how people lived their lives - not us. Life is hard enough, isn't there enough hate in this world already?
M, London, UK
The Anglican Church really should go all the way and just close it's doors. It doesn't represent God or the Bible. It makes it proclamations based on the spirit of the age. My advice to any Bible believing Christians who haven't left already.....get out now!!.
David, York,
I believe the Anglican Church still upholds its original decision on responsible birth control measures but does NOT approve abortion. Malthus (1766 - 1834) foresaw future World crises re excessive population and insufficient food supplies: perhaps doubters should read his original treatise ?.
Andrew, Maracay, Venezuela
The bibles view on gay relatinship is clear enough for someone like Dr. Atkins to try and distort our minds.You only need to read the folowing quotations in the bible to know God's instance on this issue.Genesis 1:27-28,Leviticus 18:22,20:13.
This only pose a serious question for all good christians
mickeysoo, Obuasi, Ghana
If concept is now regarded as the only measure of what is right in a relationship between tow people, why should the same principles not apply to incest? Accepting condoms was always a compromise, but even within the scope of that it does not necessarily follow that all limits have been abolished.
Joao, Cape Town, South Africa
I think Dr. William's reasoning is right but his assumptions wrong.
If homosexuality is entirely nature then maybe he'd be correct but I think science shall prove it to be inclination only: similar to other predispositions.
Nurture, choice, shall still be the ultimate decider.
Nathan, Cambridge, UK
Richie wrote: "Perhaps Dr Williams should ask his flock, .... how many support his liberal stance. I suspect if it was an election he would not be re-elected!!"
I think you would be surprised! I expect that if he didn't have our support he'd resign - but at the last Synod he clearly did.
andrew holden, oxford, uk
These flacid, so called leaders of our morality, are doing nothing but dragging down the Church.
Gay relationships are not natural. I am not saying they are wrong or anything, but they are not natural. Therefore they should not be recognised by the Church. How did PC infect Christianity?
Pete, St Albans, England
"...a more brilliant intellectual it would be difficult to find". What an extraordinary comment about someone who derives his beliefs from a book written thousands of years ago and altered continuously since. How is it possible even to define such a person as intelligent?! Read the God Delusion!
Vaseem, London, UK
The Bible also teaches that "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together". Deut 22.11.
I hope the clothes of all the people at the Conference were checked to make sure they were obeying their god's laws.
Or, if you want another version, see Lev 19:19.
E Thomson, London, England
It is time to stop projecting on God, modern Western sexual sensibilities. Do not wrap sin in the mantle of love in order to justify open rebellion against God. God's love is about holy restoration and renewal to full life. Cheapening God's love necessarily means we will live regret-filled lives.
mac, Toronto, Canada
Dr Williams hits the nail on the head when he rightly points out that it was the CofE's acceptance of contraception which opened the door to its present problems. Pope Paul VI's Encyclical Humanae Vitae looks more prophetic every day.
Andrew Brierley, Palm Beach, USA
Doesn't Williams believe Jesus Christ is Lord? Then why is he teaching children to break GOD's commandments.
His leadership is lost in the US and in Africa.
But what can I say about a church that was founded on adultery, didn't Henry the 8th start church because he couldn't get a divorce.
Ted, SeaSide, USA
Read your history: the CofE was formed to enable differing views to exist within the same church. RW is a wise and holy man trying to be true to Anglican tradition.
Scripture is open to interpretation, as is every written word of human language.
Do Xians worship a God of law or a God of love?
Phil Williams, Shrewsbury, UK
This subject,homosexuality,has become a very tiring and boring issue that the media should now abandon or risk abdicating any degree of credibility that they have left...which is precious little! The human animal and its sexual orientation should be of no concern for "sex" is just a biological act.
Fred Christensen, Uppsala , Sweden
Why can't we move to a situation of "Live and let live". There is good and bad in every walk of life. One would have thought that by this day and age society could have been shaped to one of eliminating discrimination. However, we are being kept in the dark ages by religion.
Benjamin, London,
The joy as another senior religious figure says "I think what God meant to say was.....". The bible is either the literal word of God, in which case we are all in deep, deep trouble, or it is a work of fiction sprung from the mind of man with all his stupidity and pettiness. Guess where my money is?
richard, London,
What are 'people of faith' so scared of? Why do you believe in fictional writings of 2 millenia ago? Or should I say, why do you pick & choose what it is from the Bible that satisfies your beliefs & anything else you conveniently overlook? Have you actually read the Bible? It is fantasy & nonsense!
Rod, London, UK
Rowan was seen as orthodox -clearly he is not and his Church is no place for such believers in Orthoxy.Those under the illusion that they are Catholic are deluding themselves,as the liberals have hijacked the Church.
Rowan is a decent man but should be honest about his agenda as many feel betrayed
John, Durham, UK
Read Richard Dawkins - he is enlightening!
marionmarchant, reigate,
It is a delicious irony that the Church which has persecuted gay men for centuries should now be rent asunder by the issue of homosexuality.
Also: "Marriage is an holy estate devised by God for the procreation of children"; if so, why marry women past the menopause?
What a load of nonsense it all is
jeremy Norman, london,
The beauty of been church is that we are all different yet bound by Christ, in Christ and through Christ. When I read comments such as "if you dont like it you get out" it saddens me...as I am sure it saddens Christ, who never refused anyone or "kicked" anyone out...not even those who would deny him
Jean, Miami, USA
You do have to feel sorry for Williams - he's neither conservative nor liberal enough and hence hated by both sides as he tries to straddle the divide. Perhaps the answer is an utterly Federal church where lip service to a common church is only paid.
Philip, Surrey,
Has the world gone mad? Are you going to say tomorrow that therefore it is ok for a brother and sister (god forgive me for saying this) to be in a relationship together and then the sister can become bishop and teach me - I am sorry I am humble and teachable but also have the gift of discernment.
Monika, karachi, pak
No matter which side you are on as regards the gay issue I think most will agree that this public difference of opinion is destroying the Anglican church. The RC church is not democratic and this is the reason for its endurance; if you don’t like it you get out.
Cath, Dublin, Ireland
We must pick a chose which bits of the Bible we adhere to, or else we'd be in a society where men have the right to their dead brothers' wives! Dr Williams views have made me want to get back into religion
Ola Markiewicz, London,
James from Ipswich,
The "one flesh" theory of marriage between a man and a woman was the basis upon which it was a principle of law for many years that a husband could not rape his wife. After all, how can a person rape one's own flesh?
You should choose your biblical supports more wisely.
Daniel, Belfast,
Somebody save us from this man
Peter, London, UK
discrimination, merely means recognising differences-I hope we can all tell the difference between normal, natural sexual behaviour and perversion
peter c, devizes, wessex
It is so offensive to live in Western Europe in the 21st century and still be confronted with an insititution that blatantly refuses to come out of the Middle Ages. Discrimination is discrimination, whatever it is based on.
Willem van Altena, Delft, Netherlands
So how did The Black Adder get involved in this discussion?
ron, toronto,
"The problem is that anyone who takes a stand for Bible views is denounced as intolerant"
Thats because generally they are. If they continue to pick and choose those bits of the "Bible views" which suit whichever bigotory they have then they should adhere to them all.
Stoned any adulterers lately
Dave North, Bridgend, UK
It's unfathomable ignorance to believe that the bible supports gay relationships, let alone attempt to justify them. God created man and women to be joined as 'one flesh'. God destroyed an entire city in the old testament because of it's debauchary and homosexuality.There are consequences to sin...
james wilson, ipswich, suffolk
You shouldn't use a fictional God to justify homophobia and other intolerance.
Richard, London, UK
This person is an abomination and his "church" is defiled. I urge everyone to pray for the lot of them. Homophiles have no place at the front of society. This is a tragedy of epic proportions. I promise to say a prayer for them. God Bless.
INF
Infidel, Lexpark, USA
teh church is trying very hard to be so so inclusive...to it long term detriment..gay marraiges are different from Heterosexual marraiges...he reigns in ignoranc eof his own making
tony trebiklcoc, manchester, uk
all you poor naive god fearing puppets need to wisen up. believe in yourslef and the goodness of people. who cares if two men or women have sex with eachother. they are not hurting anyone, especially not you. so leave them alone and get real there is no god.
Matthew Smith, London, England
We here in India owe a lot to the British for preaching the love of Christ to us. But now it is sad to see the torchbearers backslide in simple matters of the faith. Where is all this taking us? What is happening to the generation of the Wesleys and the Careys? We need cleansing, we need revival !
Richie Lionell, Coimbatore, India
Everything is comparable with everything else. Amy Winehouse is comparable with Mary Whitehouse. To say that X is comparable with Y is not to say that they are equivalent.
Frank Upton, Solihull,
Williams should resign. He is forever tainted and is a laughing stock.
David, Poole,
There was no legal requirement for any church to be involved in a marriage until the secular 1753 Hardwicke Act. Before then if 2 people lived together they were married. If a church chooses to restrict whom it serves, the authority to marry should be removed from it.
Derek Smith, Brighton, UK
RW has shown vast integrity, keeping his personal views to one side while trying to hold together the factions in the Anglican communion. I agree completely with him on the rightness of faithful loving gay relationships. But how dare Gledhill sabotage Lambeth NOW with 8-yr-old letters? What malice!
Patrick Ardagh-Walter, Oxford, UK
If god created (wo)man in his own image then surely he's sexually confused. Is he straight/gay/bi? Religion causes more problems than it solves and is a waste of time. It's designed for people who have can't think independently - flock of sheep is the right description! STOP PERSECUTING! HYPOCRITES!
James Woodham, Manchester, UK
The problem is that anyone who takes a stand for Bible views is denounced as intolerant, while liberals like Williams are paraded as all that's best in Christianity.
ken edwards, sheffield, uk
Some of the "Christian Right" beliefs here are precisely why many gays are refusing to pay Federal Taxes until we have Marriage Equality. Rowan Williams is a holy, noble, & enlightened man.
GAY TAX PROTEST
http://gaytaxprotest.blogspot.com/
John Bisceglia, Bellingham, USA
Correct me if I'm mistaken, but doesn't Williams's statement mean that when he teaches as a bishop he willingly says things that he believes to be false? Isn't that the definition of lying? So much for having a shred of moral authority! I hope he enjoys the power that selling out gays bought him.
Steve, Washington, DC, USA
Gosh. I can't understand how anyone living in the modern world can take this Anglican drivel seriously. It's completely irrelevant. Go out and live in the world. Think for yourselves. Do you really need a man in a black robe telling you who to love? How to love? What to believe?
George Marvin, Portland, OR, USA
Williams has been pathetic in his support of his gay parishoners, bowing to the whims of the African fanatics. I left this church years ago, joining the Unitarian Universalists, whose opinions of me and my ilk are much more accepting. God will judge me and Akinola in his own time.
Tom, San Jose, USA
I can't really say it any better than Johnny from London, but just thought I'd add in my 2 cents. Even though I'm not religious in any way, Dr Williams reflects exactly what I imagine Christianity should be like; eschewing intolerance & hypocrisy for inclusiveness & acceptance. Well done!
Jennifer, Dundee,
I just knew that the whole thing would land up as a fudge!So Homosexual active sex can be seen in the same light as heterosexual sex for the procreation of children ,as wothy in Gods eyes!!
Albert Cooper, Norwich, United Kingdom
Enough is enough. Rowan Williams must go. he no longer speaks on behalf of the Church.
Simon, Birmingham,
I continue to be amazed at the number of supposedly intelligent people who continue to interpret as literally true the clearly mythical stories and sayings in the Bible, not least of all on the subject of homosexuality.
John Murphy, Bournemouth,
Gee, how kind of him to squirm around and arrive at the obvious. Yet, he still keeps a gay relationship in second place. Only if they surpass the fidelity found in the majority of straight relationships can a gay couple be complete. He needs to lick me AND my partner of 24 years.
S Bubba, Dayton, Ohio, USA
He is going to estroy his church!
Dean, Southampton, England
If Rowan is being all inclusive why does he still discriminate against Satanists? I for one would liek to see more Satanist Bishops.... Well seeing as how the rule book (the Bible) is being re-written (on the hoof - sorry couldn't resist it) it may happen.
Ethan, nr dole farm, uk
Private correspondence from 8 years ago? Clearly a dry spell for news at the moment.
Al, West Sussex, UK
Where does this fit in with the Credit Crunch!
Lionel, Hampstead, London,
Awfully judgmental of Dr. Rowan to suggest that only "faithful and lifelong" gay relationships are worthy of respect. What is the rationale for requiring gay relationships to be "faithful and lifelong" if there are no children to raise and the relationship cannot be fruitful? Why any standards?
Lawrence, Atlanta, USA
Williams has all my respect, a more brilliant intellectual it would be difficult to find. I like his liberalism, it is throughly thought out and reasoned and I hope he overcomes the haters in the church.
Johnny, London, UK
Clearly, the church makes God in its own image.
David Allen, Marietta, USA
It's sad that people calling themselves "Christian" could express such intolerant and hateful views. I'm proud of the Episcopal Church for its inclusiveness.
Leslie Goldberg, Portland, USA
Mary , Rowan Atkinson!
DAvid Banks, Sydney,
Mary in Stevenage wrote:
"Rowan Atkinson should resign immediately!! It is obvious now that he is the cause of the schism in the church!"
Absolutely...and as for that Robin Williams!- he's not even a real vicar!
Edward, Bracknell, UK
Despite what Mary of Stevenage says, Rowan Atkinson though a confirmed 'Queensman' would be a profound benefit to the Anglican Church.
Edwin allan, Vancouver, Canada
The majority of Christians don't follow the Bible anyway. It says that women aren't equal and that we mustn't eat shellfish and pork among other things.
Matt, Bristol,
1 in 3 marriages ending in divorce. I know many gay couples who have been together without a 'marriage' for years. Clearly marriage nowadays has lost it's true meaning with such a failure rate. In good times and bad etc etc. The church needs to bring itself into the century we're in.
Richard Stephens, Swansea, UK
Since when are people (1) master Bible interpreters or (2) deciders on what constitutes evil and immorality!? Seems that people who are most insecure about their own moral code are those most likely to case stones about others' . Check your own closet before telling others to stay in theirs.
Tim, Bath, UK
In today's world, is the fact of people loving each other, in whatever form, really the most pressing problem for the Church or whoever else to deal with?
eduardo flores, madrid, spain
I rejoice in Rowan Williams beliefs. God loves everyone, pity his follwers don't. It amazes me that people are so concerned about relationships whan they manage their own. In the U.S. over 50% of marriages end in divorce. My relationship has lasted longer than 3 of my mother's 4 marriages.
David Wheeler, Kerrville, USA
Holy Mackeral! This shows how the CofE (Episcopal USA) has slid into a decline that won't end until he quits or retires. Let's get one of those two started before it's too late to salvage the organization.
Fred Temby, Ottawa Lake, USA
Any church that advocates one having less rights than another or spews divisive inequality is not a church that we should tolerate. We are not humane to allow an institution tell us to hate others. It's sick.
Neil, Moncton, Canada
Someone please give Williams a one way ticket back to Wales. The mans mind is a fuzzy as his hair!
Nona, New York City, USA
Its such a pity that he can't have the courage of his convictions and stand up for what he believes. I think he would gain more respect if he did,
Mike Homfray, Liverpool,
So the anglican church doesnt actually believe in the bible then? It saddens me deeply its come to this but if this is the official doctrine of anglicanism then I can no longer refer to them as Christians.... I dont see any alternative, the other choice is ignoring God and that I cannot do. Sorry.
Andy, York, United Kingdom
Rowan Atkinson should resign immediately!! It is obvious now that he is the cause of the schism in the church!
Sheer Evil has taken over the pulpit and now seeks to destroy all of us. History is very clear that when a nation's morality falls into serious question, then its downfall is very near!
Mary, Stevenage, UK
A sick church for a sick society...
Thomas, Leicester, UK
Can we truly accept this as members of The Church of England and its teaches that we have grown up with?
Bernard Parke , Guildford,
Does Rowan Williams really believe it’s within his remit to rewrite the scriptures to fit in with his liberal politics? The Biblical passages on homosexual sex are clear. Williams should give up his job as A of C for that of New Age counsellor in a Californian commune for aging hippies like himself.
Simon , London, UK
Perhaps he should go back to Druidism.
I am so glad that he keeps on like this destroying the Church he professes to believe in.
The longer he is archbishop the more confident I am of my Atheism.
Howard , Basildon, England
Soft Britain just melted. Christ be with us all. Amen
Sylvia Overton, london, uk
Such a shame that this great intellectual, a pillar of society, has to run such a ridiculous organisation of racists and homophobes. He should move on and stop wasting his time. Let the old buffers run the institution into the ground. This is the UK, not China
Nick, London,
Jesus came to fulfil the law not abolish it but He sent us the power to live even better than those following the law. Therefore sin is sin regardless of the century or excuse. And the major sin is not loving God with everything we have, regardless of our love for others. Therefore don't sin at all.
Julia Pomeroy, Chester, England
By belief is that there is no God and religion does more harm than good. I believe in Life, tolerance and acceptance of everyone.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that many people would think my belief is worth less than a religious belief?
Adam Hunt, London, UK
This man needs to be removed and that's an end to it.
judy, Liverpool, England
Let's face it, this is only going to reinforce the view that the C of E is pathologically obsessed with gay sex. Complete gay sex fixation - in the 21st Century it beggars belief. Grow up, C of E!
Bill McKay, Liverpool, UK
Perhaps Dr Williams should ask his flock, (in the form of a vote), how many support his liberal stance. I suspect if it was an election he would not be re-elected!!
Richie, Cardiff, Wales
Whilst the church "contemplates its own navel" over this issue and ties itself up in knots - the rest of us will carry on living our lives and being decent to our fellow brothers and sisters no matter what their race, colour,sex or sexual persuasion.
Not really hard is it !!
Richard Garland, Greater Manchester,
Dr Williams is quite correct to argue that the acceptance of contraception gave a green light to all forms of non-procreative sex. But the Lambeth Conference 1929, in accepting contraception, overturned 1900 years of unanimous Christian witness. The current mess goes back to that fateful decision.
Bernard O'Callaghan, Chorley, Lancs