Being gay is a sin, say bishops

[03/08/98 - Hazel Southam - Web - http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/results.html?in_text=gay+lambeth&in_button=17]

Homosexuality is "a sin" that requires "healing", according to resolutions announced today by 800 bishops at the Lambeth Conference. 

In an announcement which shows that the Anglican Church is sticking to its traditionalist roots, bishops say that "celibacy is right" for gays and lesbians. 

The issue of homosexuality has over-shadowed the three-week conference. At one stage it seemed that it might even split the Church. 

It is the 187 African bishops who have been the most vocal opponents of moves to ordain practising gays and bless same-sex marriages. And it is the same African bishops who have been most outspoken in the resolutions announced today. 

They say: "Those persons who practise homosexuality and live in promiscuity, as well as those bishops who knowingly ordain them or encourage these practices, act contrary to the scriptures and the teaching of the Church." They called upon bishops who had done so "to repent". 

They add that "homosexuality is a sin which could only be adopted by the Church if it wanted to commit... suicide". 

This marks a split in the Church which its spin doctors have been trying to hide during the conference. It is also a slap in the face for bishops in America who have ordained practising gays. 

The outspoken comments have been greeted with dismay by the gay lobby. Richard Kirker of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement describe the resolution as "obnoxious, highly controversial and inflammatory". 

Another revelation from the conference was that bishops were spending too much time praying and not enough time exercising. 

A special deal was set up for all bishops at the once-a-decade conference, being held at the University of Kent. For £20 they could use the multi-gym and have two free saunas to soak away the stress. However, only 21 had signed up. 

The sports centre's director Mike Wilkins described the turn-out as "disappointing". 

He added that the bishops would not be achieving their best at the conference because they were not working out. 

He said: "By not exercising you don't work to your capacity. They are probably under-achieving. I think they are much more into the spiritual side than in the physical side, the two should go together." 

His words were backed by a monk from New York, Brother Anthony Michael, who is one of the few to work out regularly.He is a chaplain to the conference, providing spiritual back-up for shattered bishops. "I work out four days a week," he said, "you have to keep fit in order to cope with the stresses and problems you encounter. It's good to get some of the stress out of my system. They've been feeding us well and I don't want to get fat," he joked. 

Brother Anthony, who normally wears a floor-length brown habit, spends more than an hour a day in sports gear on the treadmill, climbing machine and pumping weights. 

He advised the bishops to beat the flab and "take fitness seriously. It would certainly be as helpful as their spiritual devotions. They would be more able to do their job at the conference if they exercised". 

In a last-ditch bid to get the bishops pumping iron the sports team has put up posters around the campus and is handing out leaflets. But Mr Wilkins says he doesn't hold out much hope.