The priest from the Church of England who asked +Justin Welby the now-famous question on the call-in radio show, has written some reflections on the moment on her blog.
She called into the BBC show and inquired why Anglican priests can’t use their own consciences to guide them in the matter of same-sex blessings, like they did when remarriage was first being talked about in the church. +Welby replied that any liberalism in the UK would lead to greater violence in Africa against gays.
She was understandably upset by the Archbishop’s response, writing:
That’s like wondering why a woman in a violent relationship who is murdered didn’t leave, instead of asking the murderer why he killed her. Violence always needs to be condemned. The Archbishop didn’t do this. Murder and homophobia are the issues, not liberalism in the UK. Can you imagine what would have happened if Gandhi had given in to the violence and not challenged the marginalisation and oppression at the salt mines? How different would the world be if Wilberforce wasn’t listened to because the slaves might have been further abused? What would have happened if the civil rights movement hadn’t progressed because people were scared of the violence of the KKK? Women are killed and maimed today because they are being educated. Just ask Malala. Does that mean we shouldn’t educate girls? Apartheid was atrocious in its outpouring of violence. Should we not have campaigned because more black people would have been killed? What Justin said put the power in the hands of the oppressors and those who wield violence.
Read the whole post here.