Steven Milverton

Er ist einer der wenigen Kirchenführer, der sich den Menschen zuwendet, der, fernab jeglicher Bigotterie, glaubwürdig das christliche Prinzip der Nächstenliebe verstanden hat und lebt. Er hat es nicht nötig, Hass zu predigen und Ängste zu schüren.

BBCnews: 

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican Church and its leadership for its attitudes towards homosexuality.

He also repeated accusations that the Church was “obsessed” with the issue of gay priests.

Criticising Dr Williams, he said: “Why doesn’t he demonstrate a particular attribute of God’s which is that God is a welcoming God.”

Archbishop Tutu referred to the debate about whether Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, could serve as the bishop of New Hampshire.

He said the Anglican Church had seemed “extraordinarily homophobic” in its handling of the issue, and that he had felt “saddened” and “ashamed” of his church at the time.

Asked if he still felt ashamed, he said: “If we are going to not welcome or invite people because of sexual orientation, yes.

“If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God.”

In the interview, Archbishop Tutu also rebuked religious conservatives who said homosexuality was a choice.

“It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual.

“You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred.

“It’s like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society.”

From Calvary To Lambeth will be aired on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 27 November at 2000 GMT.