This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7100295.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tutu chides Church stance on gays | Tutu chides Church stance on gays |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican Church and its leadership for its attitudes towards homosexuality. | South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican Church and its leadership for its attitudes towards homosexuality. |
| In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had failed to demonstrate that God is "welcoming". | In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had failed to demonstrate that God is "welcoming". |
| He also repeated accusations that the Church was "obsessed" with the issue of gay priests. | He also repeated accusations that the Church was "obsessed" with the issue of gay priests. |
| He said it should rather be focusing on global problems such as Aids. | |
| "Our world is facing problems - poverty, HIV and Aids - a devastating pandemic, and conflict," said Archbishop Tutu, 76. | "Our world is facing problems - poverty, HIV and Aids - a devastating pandemic, and conflict," said Archbishop Tutu, 76. |
| "God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another. | "God must be weeping looking at some of the atrocities that we commit against one another. |
| "In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality." | "In the face of all of that, our Church, especially the Anglican Church, at this time is almost obsessed with questions of human sexuality." |
| Criticising Dr Williams, he said: "Why doesn't he demonstrate a particular attribute of God's which is that God is a welcoming God." | Criticising Dr Williams, he said: "Why doesn't he demonstrate a particular attribute of God's which is that God is a welcoming God." |
| 'Extraordinarily homophobic' | 'Extraordinarily homophobic' |
| Archbishop Tutu referred to the debate about whether Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, could serve as the bishop of New Hampshire. | Archbishop Tutu referred to the debate about whether Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, could serve as the bishop of New Hampshire. |
| He said the Anglican Church had seemed "extraordinarily homophobic" in its handling of the issue, and that he had felt "saddened" and "ashamed" of his church at the time. | He said the Anglican Church had seemed "extraordinarily homophobic" in its handling of the issue, and that he had felt "saddened" and "ashamed" of his church at the time. |
| Asked if he still felt ashamed, he said: "If we are going to not welcome or invite people because of sexual orientation, yes. | Asked if he still felt ashamed, he said: "If we are going to not welcome or invite people because of sexual orientation, yes. |
| "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God." | "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God." |
| Dr Williams has been working to limit divisions between liberal and traditionalist Anglicans that came to the fore following Bishop Robinson's consecration in 2003. | Dr Williams has been working to limit divisions between liberal and traditionalist Anglicans that came to the fore following Bishop Robinson's consecration in 2003. |
| Following his plea for compromise, leaders of the Episcopal Church in the US agreed to halt the consecration of gay priests as bishops, to prevent a split in the Anglican Communion. | Following his plea for compromise, leaders of the Episcopal Church in the US agreed to halt the consecration of gay priests as bishops, to prevent a split in the Anglican Communion. |
| In the interview, Archbishop Tutu also rebuked religious conservatives who said homosexuality was a choice. | In the interview, Archbishop Tutu also rebuked religious conservatives who said homosexuality was a choice. |
| "It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual. | "It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual. |
| "You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. | "You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. |
| "It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society." | "It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society." |