SUMMARY: The new Archbishop of Canterbury has reversed his position on gays and lesbians in the church and cautioned churches about performing gay commitment ceremonies.
The new Archbishop of Canterbury has reversed his position on gays and lesbians in the church and cautioned churches about performing gay commitment ceremonies.
Dr Rowan Williams, a longtime supporter of gays, now says he supports church doctrine which condemns gay relationships and rejects the ordination of gay priests.
Williams becomes leader of the worldwide Anglican and Episcopal Church this fall.
In a letter sent to all 38 primates of the Anglican Church, Williams said that the 1998 Lambeth Resolution "declares clearly what is the mind of the overwhelming majority in the Communion and what the Communion will or will not approve or authorize. I accept that any individual diocese or even province that officially overturns this resolution poses a substantial problem for the sacramental unity of the Communion."
In June, an Anglican diocese in British Columbia voted to allow its churches to perform commitment ceremonies. Several weeks ago, moves were made in both the Toronto and Ottawa dioceses to also consider allowing priests to perform the ceremonies.
Dr Williams' letter is believed to be directly pointed at the Canadian churches.
In London, the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association accused Williams of a "shocking betrayal" of gay people and of "throwing his hat in with bigots."
"This has an impact way beyond the confines of the Church -- it is something that affects all gay people, whether they consider themselves Christian or not," said George Broadhead, secretary of the group.
"In every case the religious are trying to have themselves exempted from anti-discrimination legislation so that they can continue to discriminate against gay people."