FROM CANADA'S NATIONAL POST


Gay rights 'destabilizing' Church: Carey

Anglican leader: Homosexuality overshadowing other issues
Sarah Schmidt

National Post

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Chris Bolin, National Post

Dr. George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, delivers a sermon to 
congregants at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Toronto yesterday. In a 
round-table discussion, Carey said blessing homosexual relationships is "not 
a life and death issue" like the Church's AIDS activism in Africa.
The spiritual head of the Anglican Church yesterday accused some of the 
church's clergy of destabilizing world Christianity in order to accommodate 
same-sex members of their congregations.
Dr. George Carey, who steps down later this month as Archbishop of 
Canterbury, reaffirmed his objection to the blessing of homosexual 
relationships after receiving an honorary doctorate of divinity from the 
University of Toronto's Wycliffe College.
"I am not revising the Gospel or fundamental theology. Other people are 
pushing that agenda on the rest of the Church," he said.
"That is the thing that is destabilizing world Christianity, Christianity as 
well as world Anglicanism."
In a round-table discussion with reporters, Dr. Carey, a conservative 
Evangelical, said he believes homosexuality should be accepted, but not 
condoned.
"When Jesus confronted the woman [adulterer], he didn't say to her: 'Your 
way of life is fine.' He said: 'You're accepted but sin no more,' " he said. 
"In other words, you can still accept people but still say there are lines 
here. If you go across those lines, you are going to meet disapproval."
His comments came as Anglicans worldwide debate the ordination of gay clergy 
and the blessing of same-sex relationships, which has opened a cultural 
divide between conservative clergy in Asia and Africa and more 
liberal-minded church leaders in the West. Dr. Carey last month accused 
Michael Ingham, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster in British 
Columbia, of creating a schism in the church by deciding to bless homosexual 
relationships.
The archbishop said yesterday he is frustrated that the question of 
homosexuality continues to overshadow the other work of the church.
"I've always wanted the Anglican communion to be an outward-looking, 
confident united body. Where there's confidence, churches begin to grow and 
make an impact."
Dr. Carey, widely respected in the church for his emphasis on evangelism 
among the poor in developing countries, said blessing homosexual 
relationships is "not a life and death issue," like the Church's AIDS 
activism in Uganda. His honorary degree was in recognition of Dr. Carey's 30 
years of service in the Church of England and also marked the 125th 
anniversary of the evangelical Anglican college in Toronto.
He did not directly address the same-sex controversy in a sermon delivered 
to congregants at St. Paul's Church in Toronto after receiving his degree.
He spoke of the parallels between the university and the Church, which he 
said should both challenge and transform society by extending the boundaries 
of knowledge. "The learning Christian is also an exploring Christian never 
afraid of new knowledge," Dr. Carey said.
"There is so much that binds universities and churches in our obligation to 
faithful tradition .... But we must be aware of tradition that has reached 
the end of its journey."
Speaking later, Dr. Carey acknowledged that history may interpret his views 
on homosexuality as one such outdated tradition.
"Sometimes you only know the answer to that when you look back on the 
decision you've made. I've never been an absolutist on the issue of 
homosexuality. I don't know how anybody can be an absolutist and say a final 
no because there's so much we don't know," Dr. Carey said.
Rev. Lyn Youll, who attended yesterday's ceremony, said Dr. Carey's sermon 
could inspire unity in the Church. "What he did was reminded us of our 
tradition, but not to get stuck in traditionalism."
Welsh Archbishop Rowan Williams, an outspoken liberal, is to replace Dr. 
Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Evangelical groups have attacked him in recent weeks because he preaches 
tolerance of gays and is known to have ordained a man whom he knew was 
living in a homosexual relationship.
© Copyright 2002 National Post
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