Anglican 'Covenant' Dismays Gay Activists

LONDON, 9 JULY 2007 — The Church of England General Synod caused dismay among gay activists yesterday when it approved the next stage in the creation of a so-called “covenant” that will drive the Anglican Communion further towards domination by anti-gay bigots in Africa and Asia.

Jim Herrick, chairperson of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, said: “We are alarmed that the General Synod has approved this move – it will eventually lead to liberal, pro-gay churches being kicked out of the Anglican Communion, and the Church becoming dominated by the likes of Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who thinks homosexuality is ‘a form of slavery’.

“We must not forget that Anglicanism has a privileged legal status in England, with 26 of its bishops sitting in our Parliament, helping to make law. If those bishops swing even further to the right, we can expect to see much more opposition to progressive laws – and that will affect all of us, not just members of the Church of England.”