Church Agrees With Wolfenden Report (Press, 6 December 1957)

On December 5, 1957, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, addressed the House of Lords, advocating for legal reforms regarding homosexuality and prostitution. He expressed his belief that there are clubs of homosexuals in Britain, which he likened to a 'freemasonry' with its own language that makes it difficult for individuals to escape their influence. Dr. Fisher argued that as long as homosexual acts between consenting adults in private remained criminal offences, this subculture would gain strength. He called for a change in legislation to decriminalise such acts, explaining that consent should be paramount in matters of morality. The Archbishop further noted that the current legal framework unjustly regarded clients of prostitutes as 'innocent and untouchable', suggesting punitive measures against them would discourage their behaviour. Dr. Fisher elaborated on the moral landscape surrounding sexuality, highlighting a disparity in societal outrage over homosexual acts compared to heterosexual offences like fornication and adultery. He noted that while heterosexuals prevail in numbers, both sexual inclinations exist across humanity, and the perceived immorality of homosexual acts often overshadows similar indiscretions in heterosexual behaviour. He endorsed key recommendations from the Wolfenden Committee report, which suggested not including private consensual homosexual acts among legal offences, while maintaining protections for individuals under 21. Dr. Fisher recognised the potential for misunderstandings surrounding these proposals but maintained that it was essential to start from the correct principles regarding private rights and moral codes. Moreover, he indicated that the criminalisation of homosexual acts fuels secrecy and contributes to the establishment of organisations that thrive away from public and legal scrutiny. He also mentioned a case of a young man being pursued internationally by these groups, illustrating the pressures individuals face. In closing, Dr. Fisher suggested that if possible, the extreme offence of sodomy should be treated differently from other homosexual acts under the law. He believed that this distinction would acknowledge the complexity of moral and legal considerations surrounding sexual conduct, advocating for a more humane and just legal approach regarding privacy and consent.

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