It has appeared as though the controversy shrouding the Church of England over homosexuality in the Church deepened even further this weekend, as gay clergy openly announced to the world that they would defy Anglican head Archbishop Rowan Williams, and other leading bishops over civil partnerships.
The latest news further blurs the line over the issue in the Church; one that was already extremely hazy since Dr Rowan Williams and leading Church of England bishops agreed to a publication last month. The release from the House of Bishops gave guidance on the Civil Partnerships Act in the UK, which will offer same-sex couples legal rights similar to marriage when it comes into force on 5 December 2005.
It also advised that clergy could also enter into homosexual partnerships, but only if they first assured their leading bishops that they would abide strictly by Church teaching that sexual relations should be confined to heterosexual marriage.
Clergy were also told that they should not offer formal services of blessing to couples who had been through a civil partnership ceremony.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that a number of clergy have told how they had no intention at all of assuring their bishops that they will remain sexually abstinent when they “marry” their partners.
One unhappy Church leader stated to The Daily Telegraph how he was “furious” with the way that homosexual clergy were being treated, and in addition, gay rights activists have also predicted that a widespread revolt would soon result.
One of the most powerful men in the Anglican Communion, Primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola has renounced firmly the direction that the Church of England seems to be taking.
Last week Rev Akinola stated that the Church of England was basically allowing homosexual marriages to take place and warned that it was possible the Church could suffer the same punishment as that given to the American and Canadian wings earlier this year.
