Confusion / clarity

Confusion abounds – both inside and outside the Church of England.

(1) Justin Welby gave an interview in which he was asked: ‘Is gay sex sinful?’ He replied: ‘You know very well that is a question I can’t give a straight answer to.’ The interview transcript then states: ‘[Pause, mildly embarrassed.]’ Pressed on why he couldn’t give an answer he said: ‘Because I don’t do blanket condemnation and I haven’t got a good answer to the question. I’ll be really honest about that.’

(2) Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, said that the CofE should be stripped of its exemptions under the 2010 Equality Act which allows it to act differently from the rest of society in relation to gender and sexuality issues where there are ‘strongly held religious convictions’.