Episcopal Church won’t back down over same-sex marriage as Archbishop of Canterbury apologizes to the LGBTI community

Michael_Bruce_Curry
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

The head of the U.S. Episcopal Church has said the Church will not reverse its decision on accepting same-sex marriage, despite sanctions imposed by Anglican leaders.

AP reported that in a phone interview from England, where he attended the gathering of top Anglican archbishops, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said he told his fellow leaders they should expect no change.

“They heard from me directly that that’s not something that we’re considering,” Curry said. “They basically understand we made our decision, and this is who we are, and we’re committed to being a house of prayer for all.”

Justin Welby
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

Meanwhile the Guardian reported that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has apologized for the “hurt and pain” the Anglican church has inflicted on lesbian, gay and transgender people as he attempted to defend the decision to sanction the Episcopal Church for allowing same-sex marriage.

In his closing press conference Welby said: “It’s a constant source of deep sadness that people are persecuted for their sexuality. I want to take this opportunity personally to say how sorry I am for the hurt and pain, in the past and present, that the church has caused and the love that we at times completely failed to show, and still do, in many parts of the world including in this country.”

The Guardian report also stated that Jayne Ozanne, a prominent gay rights campaigner within the Church of England, welcomed the archbishop’s public apology, saying it was significant. “But I’m sad there was no apology from the primates as a group,” she said.

The campaign for gay rights within the church was strengthening, she added. “We’re not going away. We are here; baptized members of the faith, gathering our straight friends who are choosing to stand tall with us. Momentum is building, and I believe that is Holy Spirit-inspired.”

2 thoughts on “Episcopal Church won’t back down over same-sex marriage as Archbishop of Canterbury apologizes to the LGBTI community

  1. Why does Welby think that people who consider the PRACTICE of homosexual sex to be sinful guilty of “persecuting” anybody?

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