Archbishop 'supports civil partnerships for heterosexuals'

Details 19 Apr 2013

The Guardian, UK

The Archbishop of Canterbury is in favour of extending civil partnerships to heterosexual couples, according to the veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Tatchell met Justin Welby on Thursday to discuss the Church of England's attitude to same-sex relationships.

Welby, who invited Tatchell to talk about the issue shortly before his enthronement last month, told him he saw no reason why heterosexual couples should not be allowed to enter into civil partnerships like their homosexual counterparts.

"He said he supported moves to end the ban on heterosexual civil partnerships," said Tatchell.

"He said he believed that opposite-sex couples should have the right to enter a civil partnership if they wish, and he will be supporting the amendments to the marriage bill to allow straight couples to have a civil partnership."

He added that he hoped the archbishop's support for the legalisation of heterosexual civil partnerships would encourage the government to rethink its opposition to the move.

Speaking after what termed a "very frank discussion with some considerable areas of disagreement", Tatchell said he thought the archbishop was still "evolving" in his attitude to gay marriage at a time when the government was seeking to press ahead with its plans for its legalisation.

"Justin Welby said that he is in favour of legal provision to recognise same-sex relationships but that he's unhappy with the current bill," he said.

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