Anglican leader claims gay people can be trained to suppress sexual desires
A highly-positioned member of the Church of England has caused controversy by claiming that gay people can be counselled to suppress their desires.
Laura Reynolds
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Glynn Harrison is one of sixteen people on the Crown Nominations Commission, which has the job of recommending someone to replace Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Harrison, a lay member of the commission, has written “there is evidence that some people with unwanted same sex attractions can achieve significant change”, and refers to gay relationships as “fall[ing] short of God’s purpose in creation”.
An article co-written by Harrison in 2011 ?published by the Christian Medical Fellowship- reads: “People with unwanted SSA [same sex attraction] who seek to live in conformity with their beliefs should be free to receive appropriate and responsible practical care and counsel...Others may wish to explore the possibility of achieving some degree of change in the strength or direction of unwanted sexual interests.”
Harrison is reportedly also on the board of the True Freedom Trust, -a charity which encourages Christians to turn “towards God” by turning from homosexuality to heterosexuality.
The claim has caused split opinions within the Church of England, the Guardian has reported.
Supporters of Harrison’s stance have argued that, as a member of the Crown Nominations Commission, his views should be regarded as representing the views of a large proportion of the Anglican population, around 50 million people worldwide.
Rev Peter Ould - who previously identified himself as gay before he “left homosexuality behind”- supports Harrison’s work, saying that “a conservative perspective on matters of human sexuality needs to be represented on the CNC.”
However, more liberal members of the Church of England are worried that someone with such traditional views has a role in shaping the future of the church.
Chairman of the Inclusive Church movement, Canon Giles Goddard, has reportedly labelled Harrison’s suggestions as “dangerous”.
The Anglican Church has already been divided by opinions relating to the consecration of gay bishops and gay civil ceremonies being held in church.
Harrison, emeritus professor of psychiatry at Bristol University, has refused to comment on the issue personally. However, in a statement from the Anglican Church, he is reported to have said that he himself has never offered a “gay cure” in the form of counselling or therapy.
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