Welby ‘would prefer church lost status than same sex schism’

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has reportedly said he would rather the Church of England lost its privileged status than risk a global split over samesex marriage.

The Most Rev Justin Welby made the comments privately to MPS at a meeting in the House of Commons, The Daily Telegraph understands. It comes after Church of England bishops rejected calls to allow same-sex marriages in churches at a meeting in January, following six years of debate and consultation.

Instead, they agreed to offer blessings after a civil partnership or marriage. The decision prompted backlash from equality campaigners,

‘He would rather the church be disestablished than lose groups in the global Anglican church’ who accused the church of discrimination.

The Archbishop was asked on Monday by an MP whether the Church of England should retain its status as the established church when it was out of step with the law and public opinion, The Guardian reported.

He replied that he would rather the church be disestablished than risk losing conservative groups within the global Anglican church.

A spokesman for the Archbishop said that this report of his remarks were “really not accurate” and the discussion was “more nuanced and complex”.

While the church is no longer financially supported by the state, its senior clerics are members of the House of Lords, and many of its laws are approved by Parliament. King Charles is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and he will be crowned by the Archbishop in May.

The Church of England is also the “mother church” of the international Anglican Communion. The bishops’ proposals about same-sex marriage will be debated at General Synod, the Church’s legislative body, next week.

According to current canon law, no Church of England minister can bless or marry gay couples and the Church said it will not change its existing doctrine, that Holy Matrimony “is between one man and one woman for life”.