Wow, that's really quite an incredibly uplifting thing to hear from the leader of one of the world's largest religious sects. I can only hope this is the beginning of Christianity putting an end to it's homophobic ways.

And I should care why?

Depends on his definition of the covenant. I see it as a fictitional force they let out of the box in Spielberg's film, "Indiana Jones".

Not sure I understand what right this wanker thinks he has to comment on sexuality, sexual behaviour, or indeed any sexual matter.

Not sure I understand why he thinks having a belief in a sky pixie, rising up through the ranks of a collection of similarly deluded sky pixie worshippers to the top of a bureaucracy, entitles him to comment on anything!

Remind me, but isn't christianity (also islam and judaism) based on the ethics behind Abraham? This is the guy who was told by his sky pixie to take his only son to the top of a mountain then sacrifice this kid to him?? How can you based an ethical system on this barbarity?

That was written before he became Archbishop of Cantebury.

Today, he supports a global "moratorium" on gay clergy and same-sex unions. And all because of politics. If there's a schism, Williams can't claim to lead the world's third largest church anymore. Which, of course, would mean fewer believers in the pews. That, in turn, translates into less money for essentials like gem encrusted "sailboat" hats, multi-million dollar cathedrals, and Prada shoes. I'm sure Jesus would be horrified.

This is precisely the sort of unprincipled hypocriscy and greed that turns so many off to Christianity.

John
Jesus said that he upholds every letter of the law in Leviticus. That includes stoning to death two men who "lyeth" with one another as they would a woman aka "no ass fucking or cocksucking".

Tallskin… Regardless of AB Williams belief in a pixie or what not its his belief that puts him in a position he is still in a position of influence over a great many people that makes it relevant.

Also if you remember the order for Abraham to kill Issac was a test of faith, and Issac was not killed.

Is this a big change for him, or is it where he's always been at? I can never keep the Anglican/Episcopalian leadership clear in my mind.

"Jesus said that he upholds every letter of the law in Leviticus."

That would mean no shellfish, no pork, burning prostitutes alive and the death penalty for insulting one's parents.

Ok, I looked it up, and the quote is from an exchange of letters with an American Evangelical in 2001 — but, it wasn't published until this week, right AFTER a big conference where the homophobic wing of the Episcopal church put a ton of pressure on the leadership — and during which process Rowan Williams apparently kept mum about his opinions, although he must have known they were set to be published immediately afterward.

Church politics, geez.

Wow, you guys really don't like Christians.

Uh, SHARK, should we? Why?

I can't believe that Queerty hasn't made this a feature article for a website that's supposedly globally and politically engaged, surely the support of one of the world's most enlightened and progressive thinkers in support of equality for homosexual people IN the church and its liturgical doctrine merits more than just sidelined comment? I'm sorely disappointed with the editorship of this website.

This is the same man that barred gay Bishop Robinson from the Lambeth Conference to assuage conservatives who threatened to boycott the conference over gay ordination of bishops and did boycott anyway…so much for covenants…

The Bible is not at all clear on homosexuality. The English translations that seem to be clear on the subject are, almost certainly, intentional mistranslations. There simply was no word in Hebrew or Aramaic for the concept that we now call "homosexual" in English. Indeed, the Bible documents the tale of Ruth and Naiomi, who lived as a lesbian couple. And, a literal translation of the Song of Solomon is clearly a story of love between two males (Paul R. Johnson, 1990, Ancient Answers to Modern Gay Problems). Further, it is well documented that religious discrimination against gay people didn't start until almost a thousand years after Christ (John Boswell, 1980, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality ).

The thing that I find most amusing about all of this is that: The only people Jesus ever criticized at all were the priests, for being hypocrites.

I agree with Alex. This news really is much larger than Queerty is making out.

Rowan Williams is someone that I respect greatly - now more than ever. He's a good, compassionate and articulate man; something that CANNOT be said of the Pope, or of most Muslim leaders. I think it's important to understand that he's in a tricky position right now. He's supposed to be leader of the ENTIRE Anglican communion, not just the liberal side in New Hampshire. So he's compromising and trying to work it out with the homophobes. I think he deserves more credit, especially for a comment that gay relationships reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage. What other religious leader is ever going to make such a statement? No one, that's who. The Dalai Lama rejects homosexual relationships and even Desmond Tutu wouldn't say something like that (he's more committed to ending homophobia).

Will someone please tell Rowan Williams, seriously girl, your eyebrows need manscaping.

Williams is the leader of a superstitious cult. Superstition, which is what religion is called when it's all gussied up so it'll look respectable, is, after disease, humankind’s greatest tragedy.

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.
Napoleon Bonaparte

The howling madness that produced witch burnings, the Inquisition, anti-Semitism, the Crusades and a century of genocides against Armenians, European Jews, Russians, muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and non-muslims in Drafur also produced the murders of unknown tens of thousands of GLBT folk by christist and islamic thugs. That's all the proof we'll ever need to be the implacable enemies of superstition.

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Desmond Tutu

Religious/superstitious people often display symptoms of severe mental illness (hallucinations, conversing with invisible creatures), sociopathology (their penchant for killing people not similarly afflicted) and criminality (child rape and fraud). There is no reason why they should be permitted to have any voice in the affairs of sane people.

Theology is never any help; it is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't there. Theologians can persuade themselves of anything.
Robert A. Heinlein

Wow Bill Perdue, I bet it took you a long time to google some anti-religious quotes. Some of you seem to be forgetting that the Judeo-Christian belief systems are the basis of (post)modern Western thought, and forms a big part of our heritage. Maybe it's because America is full of lower-middle class idiots that you've got so many religious nutcases, but there's something awfully awry in any case.

I can't believe I once regarded this website as an insightful resource about LGBT news - I might as well stick to reading The Times online.

Believe it or not, Nikko, not all religious people are hateful bigots. In fact, clumping them all as one and the same seems to be just as bigoted as when one of them condemns us to hell.