Archbishop of Canterbury opposes redefinition of marriage
June 04, 2013
The Archbishop of Canterbury has staked out his opposition to legislation that would recognize same-sex marriage during an address to the House of Lords.
Dr. Justin Welby made it clear that he was not opposed to recognizing homosexual unions, saying that “stable and faithful same sex relationships should, where those involved want it, be recognised and supported with as much dignity and the same legal effect as marriage.” But he said that the pending legislation does violence to the understanding of marriage.
“It confuses marriage and weddings,” the Anglican leader said. “It assumes that the rightful desire for equality – to which I’ve referred supportively – must mean uniformity, failing to understand that two things may be equal but different.” He continued:
Marriage is abolished, redefined and recreated, being different and unequal for different categories. The new marriage of the Bill is an awkward shape with same gender and different gender categories scrunched into it, neither fitting well. The concept of marriage as a normative place for procreation is lost. The idea of marriage as covenant is diminished. The family in its normal sense, predating the state and as our base community of society – as we’ve already heard – is weakened.
In unrelated news, the Vatican has disclosed that Archbishop Welby will meet with Pope Francis in Rome on June 14. The meeting is being described as an “informal, brief courtesy visit,” allowing the newly installed Anglican leader to become acquainted with the new Pope.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Archbishop Justin's speech to the Lords on the government's gay marriage Bill (Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Church of England primate to visit pope on June 14 (ANSA)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jun. 04, 2013 6:20 PM ET USA
It would be right for Francis to point out to the Anglican archbishop that he is behind the times. When Archbishop Welby says, " The concept of marriage as a normative place for procreation is lost" thanks to the nonsense now being proposed in the English parliament, he gives the idea he has been asleep the last 83 or so years. It was the Lambeth Conference of the late 20s that first put the role of procreation in marriage in serious doubt. Accept contraceptive sex and you have accepted sodomy.
-
Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Jun. 04, 2013 5:32 PM ET USA
"In unrelated news, the Vatican has disclosed that Archbishop Welby will meet with Pope Francis in Rome on June 14." What on earth for!? What can they possibly say to each other that has not already been said by their respective predecessors? Perhaps Pope Francis will reprimand Welby for his double-talk over the proposed "gay marriage" law in the UK, but that will be the only positive outcome from this meeting.
