The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a rare public condemnation of a fellow Anglican primate who described homosexuality as a ‘deadly virus’ that needed to be ‘radically removed and cut out’.
Justin Welby, who is the leader of the worldwide Anglican Church, said the comments made by Henry Ndukuba, the Archbishop of Nigeria, were unacceptable and inhumane.
His critique was endorsed by senior colleagues in the Church of England, including Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, and Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London.
In response to a statement on the pastoral care of gay people issued by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in January, Ndukuba said: ‘The deadly’ virus’ of homosexuality has invaded ACNA. It is compared to a yeast that needs to be urgently and radically removed and cut out so that it does not affect the whole dough. ‘
In a statement, Welby said: ‘I do not agree with and condemn this language. This is unacceptable. It dehumanizes the person of whom the statement speaks. ”
He said he had written to Ndukuba to make it clear that his language was not compatible with the agreed doctrine of the Anglican Communion, which condemned homophobia while repeating the traditional Christian view of marriage.
Welby added: “The Anglican Communion is trying to continue to walk together in the midst of much difference and much struggle. I call on all Christians to continue my prayer for the people and churches of Nigeria, while experiencing economic hardship, terrorist attacks, religious violence and insecurity.
“The mission of the church is the same in every culture and country: to show by his actions and words that God’s offer of unconditional love to every person through Jesus Christ calls us to holiness and hope.”
Ndukuba’s remarks were prompted by a pastoral message issued by the ACNA on sexuality and identity, which in turn led to a letter by a group of lay and orderly Anglicans saying the church ‘attracted people of the same sex’. which attracted a higher standard than straight. people ”.
The Archbishop of Nigeria described the letter – known as the ‘Dear Gay Anglicans’ letter – as a ‘call to recruit gays in ACNA member congregations’.
The worldwide Anglican Church has been plagued for decades by deep divisions over the issue of sexuality. Welby sought to prevent a rift, mainly between conservative Anglican churches in sub-Saharan Africa and some in North America, on the one hand, and more liberal churches in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.
Conservative churches form a global alliance, known as Gafcon, to ‘guard and proclaim the unchanging truth in a changing world’. ACNA and the Nigerian Church are both members of the group.
The American Episcopal Church, which represents the majority of liberal Anglican churches in America, was approved by the Anglican Communion five years ago for accepting same-sex marriage.