Williams Apologizes to Gays, Says No to Assisted Suicide, Challenges Infighting
By David Virtue, VOL
In a wide-ranging, historic address to the General Synod in London today, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued an apology to the church’s homosexuals, said no to assisted suicide and challenged infighting which threatens to pull the Anglican Communion apart.
Williams issued a 'profound apology' to the lesbian and gay Christian community but did not touch on their behavior, in a speech described by sources as “brilliant”, “clear” and “concise”. He condemned the Ugandan government’s “infamous legislation” that threatened the death penalty for gays calling it “repugnant”.
Williams said the situation had not been helped by those who ignored the fact that many regular worshippers are gay, as well as many "sacrificial and exemplary priests".
Williams said schism within the church would represent of a "betrayal" of God's mission, and he publicly warned The Episcopal Church that if they ordained a partnered a homosexual bishop it would have a “devastating impact” on Malaysian Christians to proclaim the faith without being cast as an enemy of public morality and risking both credibility and personal safety.
The Archbishop said he regretted recent rhetoric over women bishops and he sought to mollify the fears of the traditionalist wing of his church. However the Synod is not prepared to cut Anglo-Catholics any slack over the ordination of women bishops forcing many to consider the possibility of accepting Rome’s offer of an Anglican ordinariate.
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