Synod to consider homosexuality report

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 6

Synod to consider homosexuality report

A report on attitudes to i homosexuality by, the ‘ Church, the law and society; will be presented for con-[ I sideration by the Christchurch Diocesan Synod at its j annual meeting at the week-[ end. The report, by the Christchurch diocesan committee ion homosexuality, was made after two years of investigations and consultation. It recommends that every opportunity be taken to fos- | ter open, frank, and well-in- ’ formed discussion of homoj sexuality. ! The report also recom- ! mends that the Synod ap;point a commission of in-) i.quiry into ethical and other! ! issues connected with sexual j behaviour. I It calls for opposition to I discrimination against any ! person on the ground of i homosexuality, and for law ! reform to legalise homo- ! sexual acts between consenti ing males in private, with appropriate safeguards for the [protection of minors. The committee was con[vened by the Rev. C. G. . Brown. The report’s 20 pages include definitions of homosexuality, origins and com- , mon misconceptions, treatment for homosexuals, the Bible and homosexuality, Christian tradition, and the law as it applies to homosexual behaviour. Four theories on the origins of homosexual behavi- i our are examined. The report concludes that the search for i a single cause of homosex- ] ality is unrealistic. All theo- i ries agreed that it was i caused by factors over which i

i the individual had no contI rol. Some commentators de- ! cried the need for any search for origins and insisted that [homosexual behaviour was I no more in need of explanation than heterosexual behaviour, the report says. It was, in their view, a simple “fact of life,” a random but natural variation. The report says that homosexuals are commonly misconceived to be effeminate.! examples of and possibly conj tributors to the decay of [ civilisation, a threat to famlily life, increasing in numj hers, prone to unstable re- [ lationships, psychologically. abnormal, and prone to com-, mit offences against children. The Bible and homosexuality depend on interpre-' tation, but the scripture:

[should be interpreted in its [original context before it is [applied to specific instances, says the report. “The Bible appears to know nothing of homosexuality as a condition as distinct from homosexual acts,” it j says. Law reform should be considered, the report says, bej cause at present any encouragement to male homosexuals to establish or maintain [relationships was to encou- ■ irage them to break the law. [ The report will be sent to ■church committees in Canterbury, the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay. and the Board [of Social Responsibility of ■ the Church of England. The Diocesan Public and [Social Affairs Committee and [ the Diocesan Board of Chris- ! tian Education will also be [asked by the Synod to support the resolutions.