Gledhill: Faith leaders out of touch about gays

Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent
Times Online
July 21, 2008

Religious people are more positive towards homosexual people than is claimed by conservative faith leaders, a report out today says.

According to academics at Leeds University, faith leaders are failing to reflect what the people in the pews really think about gays.

The report Love Thy Neighbour, commissioned by the gay rights lobby group Stonewall, says that Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian believers are “significantly more moderate” in their views on homosexuality than is often alleged on their behalf.

The research has been published deliberately to coincide with the Lambeth Conference, the 10-yearly meeting of 650 Anglican bishops from around the world, at Canterbury, Kent. the rest