Anglican church 'won't accept gay marriages'
There is no prospect of the Church of England sanctioning gay marriages, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey has said.
Dr Carey, who will shortly mark 10 years in his post, said the church should not "muddy the waters" over the nature of marriage.
Interviewed on the BBC, the spiritual leader of the Church of England said the church could not accept gay marriages because "marriage is a relationship between man and a woman".
The Archbishop added: "I don't think it actually helps to confuse terms. I also believe very strongly in the importance of friendship.
"People can have deep friendship, and call it friendship, but we don't have to muddy the waters in terms of calling it marriage. So let's be clear about the language we use."
On the Church remarrying divorcees, the Archbishop said: "We do send out a muddled signal to people. I personally believe that marriage is such a major, major moment in anyone's life that we as a church should be generous and welcoming as far as we possibly can be.
"And that is why we are producing a report later this year, which the Church of England will discuss, which I hope actually will take us forward, because I'm concerned about this very thing."
He said a female Archbishop of Canterbury was a possibility but he acknowledged that the church is still "grappling" with issues such as homosexuality.
At present, non-practising homosexuals are welcome in the priesthood but the church "draws a line at practising homosexuals because the church has a clear ruling on what kind of lifestyle we require in the ordained ministry".
