Source:  Reuters

April 18, 2013

The new spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans held private talks on Thursday on same-sex marriage with a prominent gay rights campaigner who had called him homophobic for opposing it.

Less than a month after taking over for Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby agreed to meet Peter Tatchell after the activist publicly criticized him.

Britain’s lawmakers voted heavily in favor of legalizing same-sex unions in February, but there are several more parliamentary hurdles to pass before it becomes law.

Prime Minister David Cameron has championed the legislation, which the Anglican and Catholic churches oppose along with many in his Conservative Party.

The invitation to Lambeth Palace, the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, came after Tatchell wrote an open letter condemning the new head of the 80 million-strong church over his stance on the issue.

“You claim that you are not homophobic but a person who opposes legal equality for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people) is homophobic,” Tatchell wrote.

Speaking at a makeshift news conference in the rain across the road from Lambeth Palace’s imposing red brick gatehouse with its big oak doors, Tatchell said their meeting was a breakthrough. . .

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