BBC News | UK | Church rethinks stance on gays

A rethinking of religious teachings on homosexuality is set to send shockwaves through the church.

A new catechism, written by one of the Church of England's most senior figures Canon Edward Norman, suggests homosexuality has been "divinely ordered".

The work, An Anglican Catechism, was commissioned by the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope.

Members of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) have welcomed the section on homosexuality and say it is a significant step forward.

'Extremely welcome'

Canon Norman states in the catechism: "The Church continues to classify homosexuality as an intrinsically disordered condition ('against nature'), yet significant numbers of Christians are, and actually always have been, themselves homoesexual."

Richard Kirker, General Secretary of the LGCM, said:" The section on homosexuality is an extremely welcome breath of fresh air.

"It reminds other figures in the church, and society generally, just how much further the church has to move on this issue before homosexuals are not dscriminated against by the church.

"This could send shockwaves through the church, because of who it has been written by."

Archbishop of York Dr David Hope
Dr David Hope has endorsed the work
Canon Norman said the issue takes up a very small part of the text, which tackles a wide range of issues.

He said: "I have not written this to be controversial.

"The House of Bishops and the General Synod are split down the middle on this issue and I don't seek to exacerbate a split.

"What I have written is designed to clarify exactly what the church teaches on the issue."

The Archbishop of York has endorsed the work and written a foreword for it.

In the text, the theologian argues that sexual acts condemned in the past were not necessarily specifically homosexual.

Canon Edward Norman states:"[Rather] certain types of depraved behaviour and excessive indulgence which, where they are found in heterosexual liaisons, are equally to be rejected by those seeking the sanctification of their whole persons."

The book is to be launched on Thursday in London.


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