Kenilworth, 27 February 2011 — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that he will not countenance Church of England buildings being used to conduct gay civil partnership ceremonies and is not prepared to let the Government tell the Church how to behave.
Commenting on behalf of the gay humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust, secretary George Broadhead said: “This is not at all surprising. When Williams was first appointed in 2003, he was warmly welcomed by gay Christians as a liberal, but it has become obvious in recent years that he has thrown in his lot with the Church’s evangelicals who take a hard line on gay sexual relationships and gay rights. He has been unwilling to distance himself from, let alone condemn, the worst of these like the Anglicans in Uganda. Although he publicly condemned the murder of the Ugandan gay activist David Kato, he declined to recognise the part played in stoking up anti-gay hatred by the Anglican Church in that country.
“Humanists campaign for a society in which everyone is free to practise their faith, change it, or not have one at all, but many wonder why any self-respecting gay person would want a ceremony in a building which belongs to an institution which oppresses them. After all there are now plenty of plush alternatives to the often gloomy registry offices.”