The head of Australia's Anglicans has called on his church to be more accepting of long-lasting and faithful same-sex relationships and raised the possibility of a marriage style ceremony for partners.
Primate Peter Carnley, Archbishop of Perth, stops short of condoning gay marriages, but says Anglicans could consider viewing same-sex relationships in the context of “committed friendships.''
Archbishop Carnley said same-sex relationships would be less likely to fail if the church accepted them. This acceptance might, in the future, extend to allowing same-sex couples to seek formal approval within the church in a ceremony similar to a marriage, he said.
Australian law does not allow same-sex marriages.
The archbishop's comments come after one of Australia's most senior Catholic clerics, Sydney Archbishop George Pell, was greeted at his induction mass last week by gay protesters who claim he is homophobic.
Pell has refused to give communion to practising homosexuals, and has made remarks that homosexual sex is more of a health hazard than smoking.
Carnley said the Bible makes no clear teachings about homosexual behaviour, and the few mentions of homosexuality appear to target promiscuity.
He added that the church might do well to focus on the spiritual quality of homosexual friendships “as vehicles for the expression of love, joy, peace, forgiveness, gentleness, mutual respect, care and steadfast loyalty.''
The Catholic Church said Archbishop Carnley's comments were at odds with mainstream Christianity.
“If he's saying that the church should regard homosexual relationships and activity as legitimate, I think he's at variance with mainstream Christianity,'' Catholic Church spokesman Brian Lucas said. “That point of view is not one shared universally at all.''