LONDON (AP) — A senior Church of England bishop has angered gay-rights campaigners by saying homosexuals should repent.
Archbishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the Bible defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman. He said the church welcomed gay people, "but we want them to repent and be changed."
(...)
Gay groups condemned the bishop's remarks. Campaigner Peter Tatchell said Nazir-Ali's view "goes against Christ's gospel of love and compassion."
Christ's Gospel did not put a stamp of approval on homosexual behaviour. It is clear from Scripture and Tradition that homosexual behaviour is condemned.
Tradition is important, because unlike "Bible-Only" Christians, Catholics and other churches that subscribe to apostolic succession believe in the inerrancy of Sacred Tradition. (Anglicanism less so, but it still holds an important function.) In other words, what was taught by the Apostles and handed down, but not formally taught in Scripture, is considered to be equal to Scripture.
That is why the Catholic Church and other churches that believe in apostolic succession will never renounce its opposition to homosexual acts.
As far as we're concerned, Jesus rejects homosexual behaviour, as well.
Love is not just sentiments. It's not just intentions. It must correspond to objective standards of behaviour. God made human beings a certain way. We must respect that logic of his creation, as God made all creation "good".
Homosexual behaviour does not do that.
And Derek Munn of gay-rights group Stonewall accused the bishop of promoting inequality and intolerance.
Unlike gay rights activists who promote intolerance of conservative Christians.
