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Tim Farron 'regrets' saying he believed gay sex was not a sin | Tim Farron 'regrets' saying he believed gay sex was not a sin |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Tim Farron has said he regrets declaring he did not believe gay sex is sinful during the 2017 general election. | Tim Farron has said he regrets declaring he did not believe gay sex is sinful during the 2017 general election. |
The then-Liberal Democrat faced repeated questioning over his Christian beliefs during the campaign and at first declined to state his position. Eventually he relented and told the BBC in April: “I don’t believe that gay sex is a sin.” | The then-Liberal Democrat faced repeated questioning over his Christian beliefs during the campaign and at first declined to state his position. Eventually he relented and told the BBC in April: “I don’t believe that gay sex is a sin.” |
It came two years after a grilling by Channel 4‘s Cathy Newman, who asked three times what Mr Farron believed and elicited the response that to “understand Christianity is to understand that we are all sinners”. | It came two years after a grilling by Channel 4‘s Cathy Newman, who asked three times what Mr Farron believed and elicited the response that to “understand Christianity is to understand that we are all sinners”. |
Reflecting on those comments in an interview with Premier Radio, Mr Farron said his election statement was something “I regret”. He had “foolishly, and wrongly, attempted to push [the scrutiny] away by giving an answer that, frankly, was not right,” he added. | Reflecting on those comments in an interview with Premier Radio, Mr Farron said his election statement was something “I regret”. He had “foolishly, and wrongly, attempted to push [the scrutiny] away by giving an answer that, frankly, was not right,” he added. |
Asked about his regrets, the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said: “In the end the difficulty I’ve got in all this is if you’re a Christian you’ve got a very clear idea about what sin is, and it is us falling short of the glory of God. That is something we equally, all of us, share. | Asked about his regrets, the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said: “In the end the difficulty I’ve got in all this is if you’re a Christian you’ve got a very clear idea about what sin is, and it is us falling short of the glory of God. That is something we equally, all of us, share. |
“In one sense, to be asked that question, is to essentially persecute one group of human beings.” | “In one sense, to be asked that question, is to essentially persecute one group of human beings.” |
Non-Christians view sin as “condemnatory” and it feels like “being accused of something”, Mr Farron said, adding that ”we’re talking different languages” | Non-Christians view sin as “condemnatory” and it feels like “being accused of something”, Mr Farron said, adding that ”we’re talking different languages” |
“Maybe you could’ve explained that” but it would be “naive” to think the people behind the questions were “interested in the theology”, he said. | “Maybe you could’ve explained that” but it would be “naive” to think the people behind the questions were “interested in the theology”, he said. |
In the past Mr Farron has spoken of his “passionate concern about LGBT+ rights” and said he had campaigned on the issue for 31 years since joining the Lib Dems. | In the past Mr Farron has spoken of his “passionate concern about LGBT+ rights” and said he had campaigned on the issue for 31 years since joining the Lib Dems. |
Believing in the right of people to make their own choices was essentially liberal, he told the radio station. | Believing in the right of people to make their own choices was essentially liberal, he told the radio station. |
Sir Vince Cable, the new Lib Dem leader, tweeted: “I strongly disagree with @timfarron’s personal views expressed today. @libdems have a long & proud record of fighting for #LGBT+ rights: campaigning to repeal section 28, equalising age of consent and legislating for equal marriage. I will continue to champion rights and dignity.” |
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