The Archbishop of Canterbury has unveiled new guidance on ‘challenging homophobic bullying’ in church schools. He also gave an interview to Pink News. According to the organisation, which describes itself as ‘Europe’s largest gay news services’, it is the first time that a Primate of the Anglican Church has given an interview to a ‘gay media publication’.
“As you know I have said, and got a fair amount of flak for it within parts of the Church, we have to accept, and quite rightly, that the same-sex marriage act is law, and that it’s right and proper, it’s the law of the land, and that’s great” Archbishop Welby told Pink News, according to their article here.
The guidance on ‘challenging homophobic bullying’, which is to be sent all Church of England schools, begins by quoting the Archbishop: “The Church is not changing its teaching on gay relationships but we must accept that there is a revolution in the area of sexuality.” The report goes on to recommend that schools should recognise a category of ‘homophobic bullying’ in their anti-bullying strategies.
It defines homophobic bullying as “bullying on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” However, no attempt is made to explain whether ‘sexual orientation’ means same-sex attraction, same-sex activity or the embrace of a so-called sexual identity. Homophobic bullying could therefore include any opposition to same-sex sexual activity. For example, the report suggests ‘Pupils may also experience indirect homophobic abuse, not directed towards a particular person or group but used when remarks are made to pass some kind of negative judgement”.
The full report can be read here >
Responding, Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern said: "What does the Archbishop of Canterbury think he is doing? Is he aware that he is playing into the hands of a militant, gay lobby group which has no qualms in targeting Christians and forcing them out of their jobs. When is he going to stand up for the Christians who have been bullied and punished for speaking of Jesus in modern Britain?
“This new guidance for Church schools is very dangerous. It is another step towards both normalising homosexual behaviour and also creating a climate of fear that discourages people from speaking the truth about God’s good pattern of heterosexual marriage as the one proper place for sexual activity. No caring person can be immune from the pain in society that flows from rejecting God’s beautiful gift of marriage. It’s tragic that instead of encouraging Church schools to have the confidence to speak clearly of God’s pattern for relationships, this report, backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, only adds to the confusing voices to which children are exposed, by introducing a false category.
“Christians know that all people are created in God’s image and are loved by Him. All bullying should be opposed. But that does not require the creation of a false category of ‘homophobic bullying’ that suggests that there is legitimacy to homosexual activity. To encourage children to think that homosexual activity is valid does not protect them from what is oppressive.”
Please contact the Archbishop of Canterbury at: pa.archbishop@lambethpalace.org.uk
