English Archbishops Defend Conscience for Traditionalists
01/24/2007

The civil rights of gay and lesbian couples cannot be afforded privilege over the rights of conscience of traditionalist Christians, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York stated in a Jan. 23 letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

While the letter was issued in response to a domestic political dispute over the proposed Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, or SORs, the arguments proffered by the archbishops track closely those made by the Panel of Reference and its support of the Diocese of Forth Worth. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has not responded to the panel’s recommendations, or the subsequent objections offered by the President of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson, but his refusal to privilege legislation over the right of conscience has been seen by some observers as an indication of his likely actions. the rest