Charlie Hughes says he can't approve of people who have gay sex. An Auckland Anglican vicar is leaving the church over its moves to bless people in same-sex relationships. The former vicar of St Michael's in Henderson Charlie Hughes has told the New Zealand Herald he cannot reconcile the decision of the church to recognise same sex relationships with his ordination vows. "It's not because we have a problem with people who are in a same sex relationship but because of the commitment we have to shaping our lives around the teachings of the Bible," he says. "This isn't an anti-gay issue. This is a pro-Bible issue. There are seven completely clear statements in the Bible about same sex acts which are all disapproving." Hughes says he knows of other churches in which rifts had formed, while the Herald reports a group of lawyers are also working on a legal challenge to the church's move. He claims he in no way supports “repressive policies against homosexuals,” adding "I am prepared to be supportive and engaged with people who experience same sex attraction but I cannot approve of those who participate in same sex acts."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 29th May 2014 - 10:46am