Anglican head rejects gay unions
What you need to know:
- The Archbishop said that the church stood for unity and would do anything it could to spread the gospel further without causing unnecessary rifts
The global head of the Anglican Church will not allow its ministers to bless same-sex marriages as the move will split its 77 million members across the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Reverend Justin Welby said any move to put pressure on the church’s leadership to sanction such marriages was an impossibility.
“Some Anglican communities in Africa have even said they will reject aid from us if we recognise same sex marriages,” said Archbishop Welby.
In a widely quoted report by UK Independent newspaper, The Archbishop said that the church stood for unity and would do anything it could to spread the gospel further without causing unnecessary rifts.
Although sympathetic to calls for the Church to honour gay relationships, Reverend Welby said it was “impossible” for worshippers in Africa to support homosexuality. The church’s global head was speaking after the UK government recognised gay rights.
The Archbishop said during a visit to the scene of a massacre of Christians in South Sudan, religious leaders told him that they would not accept the Anglican help if it blesses gay marriage were allowed.
