Sexual Ethics News Review

2004 - current

2000 - 2003

Homosexuality and the church (October 2003)
Gay bishop set to be ordained (July 2003)
Adoption extended to include co-habitees (January 2003)
Gay couples may be allowed to adopt (July 2002)
Surveys reveal Britain becoming more liberal (January 2002)
Government announces draft sex strategy (October 2001)
Christian teenagers say unmarried sex is OK (July 2001)
New sex education guidelines in Scotland (July 2001)
Calls for sex-change ban (July 2001)
Gay rights code to be shelved (April 2001)
Britain scraps Caribbean anti-gay laws (April 2001)
Government Campaign to Promote Virginity (January 2001)
Genetic offspring for gays (January 2001)
Transsexual Marriage (October 2000)
Section 28 Latest (October 2000)
Sweeping Sex Laws Reforms (October 2000)
Gay Dads Expecting Again (October 2000)
Changes to sex education (July 2000)
California prohibits same-sex marriage (July 2000)
Lords block Section 28 repeal (April 2000)

1997 - 1999

Prostitution and Pornography are thriving (October 1999)
House of Lords rejects lowering homosexual age of consent (July 1999)
US research fails to validate gay gene (July 1999)
Teenage and Unmarried Pregnancies (April 1999)
Viagra Deaths (April 1999)
Bishop Blames 'Homophobic' Bible (July 1998)
Preventing Teen Pregnancies (July 1998)
Free and safe sex? (April 1998)
Homosexuality debate rages on (January 1998)
Furore over homosexuality (January 1997)

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sexual ethics index

resource centre

April 2004

Gender Recognition Bill

January 2004

Civil gay partnerships

The government is intending to allow same-sex couples legal recognition of their partnerships. The Civil Partnership Bill, announced during the Queen's Speech at the state opening of Parliament, will allow each partner to have pension and property entitlements similar to those available to married couples. Nine other European countries have similar civil partnership agreements.

The bill makes no provision for inheritance tax exemptions for gay partners, and falls short of couples being allowed a marriage ceremony. At present, further consultation is taking place on the inheritance tax issue.

The government has been criticised for failing to recognise the rights of unmarried heterosexual couples, as they are excluded from this bill. Current UK law does not confer any special rights to couples outside of marriage, except in cases of claiming a will from deceased partners. (bbc.co.uk 2003; 27 November)

October 2003

Homosexuality and the church

Anglican leaders are seeking to excommunicate the American Episcopalian wing of the Church of England as a result of the appointment of the actively homosexual Canon Gene Robinson to the Bishopric of New Hampshire.

Just over half of the leaders of the Anglican church have criticised the appointment, and have called for the Episcopal church to cancel his ordination. Pressure is mounting on Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to excommunicate the American wing unless they meet the demands of the majority of bishops to reverse the selection of Canon Robinson. Dr Williams had written to primates before the confirmation of the appointment, calling for preservation of unity. This was understood to be a call to stop the election of Canon Robinson.

Anglican leaders will meet at a summit called by Dr Williams in October in London to discuss the issue of gay clergy. The leader of the Southern Cone church in the US, Gregory Venables, and the Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, have both supported a motion to remove the Episcopalian church from communion. According to Venables, 'they've already stepped outside the historic faith, so they're out'.

While some Anglican officials are seeking a compromise, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement are lobbying David Blunkett to prevent Akinola from attending the meeting in Britain for fear of inciting people to hatred of homosexuals.

Earlier on in the summer, Canon Jeffrey John withdrew from the post of bishop-elect of the diocese of Reading in the UK, after pressure from Dr Williams not to take up office. The Archbishop made his decision after conservatives and evangelicals threatened to split the Anglican Communion over the issue.

Since Canon John renounced his willingness to take up the Reading post, he has called for his supporters to remain in the church and fight for change. While evangelicals have welcomed Canon John's decision, liberals in the Church of England have been appalled by his treatment, notably the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, Colin Slee. Canon John is a high profile advocate for issues pertaining to gay rights. He is expected to remain in his present post as Canon Theologian of Southwark Cathedral. (Times 2003; 31 August, Telegraph 2003; 7, 17, 29 July)

Gay bishop set to be ordained

A gay priest looks set to be ordained as Bishop of Reading later this year, despite fierce criticism from evangelicals within the Church of England.

Canon Jeffrey John, 50, has been in a long term relationship with his male partner for 27 years. He says he is now celibate. He has been a campaigner for gay rights for many decades and last year contributed to a collection of prayers for homosexuals. He has also admitted ordaining another gay priest.

He was appointed by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Richard Harries, in a move supported by the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

Dr John's appointment has been described as 'catastrophic' by evangelicals. A group of nine bishops have written to the Times stating their opposition and there is real concern about a growing split within the church.

The news comes only weeks after the election of Canon Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in the USA, the first Anglican bishop to be openly living with a gay partner. (bbc.co.uk 2003; 22 June, Times 2003; 27 May, 9 June)

January 2003

Adoption extended to include co-habitees

The House of Lords has approved the government's Adoption and Children Bill after voting by 215 to 184 in favour of amendments to allow homosexual and unmarried heterosexual couples to adopt.

Prime Minister Tony Blair promised in February 2000 to lead a review of adoption policy amid concern over the number of children in care. The original white paper included no proposals for extending adoption eligibility, and Mr Blair is reported to believe that children are best brought up 'in a stable relationship by a mother and father'. The same-sex and co-habiting couples extension was inserted in the Commons by backbenchers on a free vote. Supporters of the amendments insist that extending adoption will increase the number of children that 'come out of care and find families', and is therefore in the interests of children.

A leading opponent in the Lords, Lady O'Cathain, expressed her disappointment: 'Vulnerable people need stability and permanence. They need a mother and a father. The last thing they need is to be used as trophies in a gay rights crusade.' Others have highlighted the instability of non-married relationships as reason to limit adoption to married couples only. Government figures indicate that cohabiting couples are 6.5 times more likely to split up than married partners. 'If a co-habiting couple wish to make a permanent long-standing commitment to the child, why not make a long-term commitment to one another?' questioned Lady O'Cathain. (Guardian 2002;15 October, guardian.co.uk 2002;6 November)

July 2002

Gay couples may be allowed to adopt

MPs have voted in favour of giving same sex and unmarried heterosexual couples adoption rights equal to married couples. The Commons voted by a majority of 155 in favour of opening adoption to all couples. At present only single people and married couples are allowed to adopt. The Bill still has to pass through the House of Lords, however.

Tony Blair fully supported the measure and declared a free vote for Labour MPs. However, the Conservative party leader, Iain Duncan- Smith, declared unmarried couples 'unfit to adopt'. He cited figures which show that cohabiting couples are four to five times more likely to break up than married couples; he maintained that he was not making a moral judgement but a practical one as the children in question have already faced difficulties and are in need of a stable home.

In the past, one member of an unmarried couple has been forced to adopt as a single person, leaving their partner with no legal rights over the child. Campaigners claim that the restriction can cause problems where the legal adopter becomes unable to care for the child. According to Felicity Collier, chief executive of the pressure group British Association of Adoption & Fostering, the new ruling will encourage more people to put themselves forward as adoptive parents.

Although more than 4,000 children were successfully adopted last year, only 2,700 of them came from the 58,000 in institutional care. There is also evidence that many who are not adopted end up on the streets. Ms Collier believes that an extra 5,000 adoptive families are needed each year to meet demand. However, it can take years from applying to adopt through to a successful adoption. One in ten children in care waits more than three years before an adoptive family is found. (Guardian 2002; 17 May, Times 2002; 17 May)

January 2002

Surveys reveal Britain becoming more liberal

The number of couples marrying in the UK is at its lowest level since 1917 and our divorce rate is currently the highest in the European Union. The results of the annual British Social Attitudes survey also show that more than 15 per cent of couples now cohabit compared with five per cent in 1986, and by 2021, the number is expected to reach 30 per cent. This means that a quarter of children are now born to cohabitants.
The report, published by the National Centre for Social Research, states that marriage is 'no longer seen as having any advantage over cohabitation in everyday life'. Only 54 per cent of adults now think that 'people who want to have children ought to get married' compared with 70 per cent in 1989. Similarly, it appears that 62 per cent of adults think there is 'nothing wrong' with sex before marriage compared with 42 per cent 12 years ago.

It also suggests that opinions amongst church groups have softened as just over half of Catholics and two-thirds of Anglicans interviewed now believe people should marry before having children.

The authors of the report warn that government policy has not kept pace with this social change as family law still concentrates on the legal rights of married people, treating cohabitants as inferior. However its publication comes at a time when a private members bill, the Relationship (Civil Registration) bill, is being introduced in the House of Commons by backbench MP Jane Griffiths. Although it is widely expected to fail, if the bill were passed it would allow same-sex and heterosexual cohabiting partners the same legal rights as married couples.

According to a second report, published in the Lancet, young people have more partners before settling down; men and women are more likely to have affairs; and twice as many women have homosexual encounters as ten years ago. The three year study of the sex lives of more than 11,000 people aged from 16 to 44, conducted by University College London (UCL), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the National Centre for Social Research aimed to provide an accurate picture of sexual lifestyles in Britain today.

Compared to a decade ago, twice as many men now pay for sex and despite a significant increase in condom use, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases has more than doubled. 41 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women aged 25 to 34 have apparently had more than ten sexual partners. The average age of first intercourse is now 16 and 30 per cent of men and 26 per cent of girls had sex under the age of 16. (Independent 2001;26 November, 30 November, Observer 2001;25 November)

October 2001

Government announces draft sex strategy

The government has issued its long awaited draft proposals aimed at modernising sexual health and HIV services in England. The national strategy for sexual health and HIV will also tackle the rising prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. It will be accompanied by a new national safer sex information campaign in 2002 and spending of £47.5m over the next two years. The move coincides with publication of the latest figures from the Public Health Laboratory Service, which show that the upward trend in sexually transmitted infections since 1995 continues unabated.

The strategy will focus on more integrated care, including piloting 'one-stop shops' for young people. A key element is a reduction in the number of newly acquired HIV and gonorrhoea infections by 25% before the end of 2007, including increasing the uptake of HIV testing to 60% of people offered it. Screening for chlamydia will begin in 2002, but initially only among selected groups of women. All gay and bisexual men attending genitourinary clinics will be offered hepatitis B vaccination at their first visit.

Cases of gonorrhoea in England and Wales rose by 27% from 1999 to 2000 and are now at their highest level for over a decade. Attendances at genitourinary clinics have doubled over the past ten years to more than one million. New diagnoses of HIV were the highest on record last year.

Speaking at the launch last week, the deputy chief medical officer, Sheila Adam, acknowledged the strategy as 'ambitious'. But she said, 'This is the first comprehensive look at a range of measures aimed at reducing sexually transmitted infections.' (BMJ 2001;323:250, 4 August)


July 2001

Christian teenagers say unmarried sex is OK

A third of young evangelical Christians believe in living together with a partner before marriage. The findings of a survey commissioned by the Evangelical Alliance, have shocked church leaders, who expected fewer than 10 per cent to support cohabitation. In total, 33 per cent of Christians aged 18 to 35 supported living together, compared with 82 per cent of non-Christians. The survey also shows that Christians in the 18-35 age group are the most rapidly declining age group among churchgoers. About 330,000 regularly attend services - one in ten of all churchgoers. Only the over-80s represent a smaller proportion. The survey also found that more than one in ten young Christians had taken illegal drugs, smoked and drunk excessive amounts of alcohol. The same number said it was acceptable to steal small items, such as stationery from work. One third said it was sometimes necessary to tell a lie.

In another startling survey of 15,000 children between the ages of 13 and 15 conducted by Rev Prof Leslie Francis of Bangor University, 82 per cent of those interviewed who reported to be Anglican thought that divorce was acceptable, and 85% of Roman Catholic teenagers disagreed with their Church's teaching on sex outside of marriage. This compares poorly to Muslim children, where 58% thought divorce was OK, and 51% thought that sex outside of marriage was fine. (Telegraph 2001; 14 March, Times 2001; 7 May)

New sex education guidelines in Scotland

Following the repeal of Section 28 in Scotland, the law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools, the Scottish Executive has published new guidelines on sex education placing a greater emphasis on the value of marriage. Schools will be ordered to teach that churches and large sections of society view marriage as the ideal relationship and that marriage and parenthood play a vital role in a family environment. The Church of Scotland is welcoming the fact that children will not just be taught about 'romance and sexuality'. However, many groups are pushing for an endorsement of marriage in law; as local authorities are still only legally bound to promote stable family life, leaving parents with little power to force schools to promote marriage if they choose not to. (Telegraph 2001; 23 March)

Calls for sex-change ban

The Evangelical Alliance published a report on transsexuality in January calling for sex-change operations to be stopped and an independent inquiry to be carried out by the Chief Medical Officer. The 100-page document, which includes contributions from doctors, lawyers and theologians, argues that sex-change operations are unnecessary and that transsexuals should be given holistic treatment for their spiritual and their mental health.

An alliance spokesman said: 'Transsexuals are, we believe, confused about their identity and the correct response is an holistic one, which emphasises psychosomatic unity without recourse to surgery. It is a condition that cannot be cured by the surgeon getting the knife out.' Clare McNab, a transsexual and spokesman for Press for Change, attacked the report yesterday for failing to include positive evidence from transsexuals.

There are estimated to be 2,500 to 5,000 transsexuals in Britain. The NHS conducts sex-change operations for men and women who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a recognised medical condition. (Telegraph 2001, 13 January)

April 2001

Gay rights code to be shelved

New measures, aimed at outlawing any discrimination against gays in the workplace is to be put on hold by the government until after the next election in order to avoid a political row. The advisory code of practice has already been drawn up by a taskforce from the equal opportunities commission, in cooperation with the Confederation of British Industry and gay rights groups. This law is designed to allow Britain to conform to an EU directive that will require governments to introduce laws within three years banning discrimination against gays. (Guardian 2001; 27 October)

Britain scraps Caribbean anti-gay laws

Britain has repealed laws prohibiting homosexual acts in its five Caribbean territories, acting after legislators of the islands refused to do so on biblical grounds. Leaders on the islands were angered by London's move, saying that 'homosexuality is immoral and goes against the grain of our culture and religion'. Christian leaders and local politicians said the disagreement over homosexuality reveals a widening cultural rift between what they condemned as an increasingly atheist Britain and its faraway Caribbean territories.

The order from the British Privy Council, which acts as the highest court for the territories, decriminalises homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. (Guardian 2001; 6 January)

January 2001

Government campaign to promote virginity

The Government has launched a £2 million advertising campaign to raise the image of virginity. The campaign aims to slow the headlong rush into sexual experience. They plan to start by telling teenagers the average age that girls and boys actually lose their virginity, showing them that they are not as far behind the rest of the pack as they thought. This initiative is part of a larger campaign to prevent teenage pregnancies, and aims not to lecture children, but rather cause them to think more thoroughly about sex. (Telegraph 2000; 10 October)

Genetic offspring for gays

The team that cloned 'Dolly the sheep' is researching a way of enabling male homosexual couples to have children that are their genetic descendants. The main problem that they are encountering is a way of manipulating 'imprinting', a process whereby the parental origin of a gene is marked. However it may be possible to replace DNA from a donated egg with that of a sperm and then maternally imprint it. It would then be able to develop if fertilised with sperm from the partner. (Telegraph 2000; 26 September)

October 2000

Transsexual Marriage

Men and women who have undergone sex change operations may be allowed to marry legally and adopt children under new proposals drawn up by Home Office Ministers. It is currently illegal for Britain's 5,000 transsexuals to have their original sex altered on their birth certificate. However, last year they won the right under the Sex Discrimination Act to have their new gender recorded on passports and driving licences. Civil liberties groups claim that Britain is out of step with the rest of Europe where, with the exception of Andorra, Albania and Ireland, transsexuals are not prevented from marrying. (Weekly Telegraph 2000 [Australasian Edition];470:5, 26 July-1 August)

Section 28 Latest

The House of Lords has once again comprehensively rejected the Government's latest attempt to scrap Section 28 of the Local Government Act, which bans local authorities from promoting homosexuality. As a result, it is likely to remain in place until after the next General Election. For the second time this year, the peers voted overwhelmingly to keep Section 28 after it was removed by the Commons. The Government was defeated by 270 votes to 228 - roughly the same figure as last time, despite the recent increase in the number of both Labour and Liberal Democrat peers.

However, Section 28 (or Section 2A as it is now known) has been repealed in Scotland after a failed campaign by millionaire business tycoon Brian Souter to stop its abolition. He is believed to have spent around £2 million on the 'Keep the Clause' campaign and a Scotland-wide referendum also revealed that 87% of the population wanted to retain Section 28. However, the Scottish Parliament voted 99 to 17 to remove what the Labour Party describes as a standing rebuke to the gay community. Supporters claimed that it will provide more scope for the discussion of alternative sexual lifestyles in schools in the next academic year (Times 2000; 22 June, Times 2000; 25 July).

Sweeping Sex Laws Reforms

The Home Office has unveiled proposals for drastic alterations to the current sex laws in which rape suspects would be unable to claim consent if they were drunk or the victim was asleep or intoxicated. The term 'rape' would also be expanded to encompass both anal and oral sex. Gay sex crimes - gross indecency and buggery - would also be abolished. Incest would be replaced by a new offence of family sexual abuse to cover blood relatives, foster and adoptive parents and partners. Voyeurism and necrophilia would also become crimes for the first time and tougher sentences would be put in place for indecent exposure. Consent would be defined as 'free agreement' in an attempt to increase the current number of rape convictions. The most comprehensive review for over 100 years also rejected the lesser offence of date or acquaintance rape (Times 2000; 27 July).

Gay Dads Expecting Again

The homosexual couple who fathered twins by a surrogate mother have confirmed reports that they are expecting an addition to their family. In response to reports that they are expecting triplets, Barrie Drewitt, partner of Tony Barlow, said, 'We are pregnant with more than one child, but I cannot say any more at the moment'. The wealthy couple have been told by the Home Office that there is no guarantee that any more children born outside the UK would be allowed to join their family (Times 2000; 25 July).

July 2000

Changes to sex education

The UK government has embarked on a £6 million campaign to cut the number of teenage pregnancies. There are an estimated 90,000 pregnancies in the UK each year, of which 8,000 are among girls under 16. This is the highest rate in Europe. In twenty pilot projects, among deprived areas, special advisors will give girls individual advice on abortion and contraception and help in parenthood.

Through the 'Keep the Clause Campaign', public pressure has increased against the Scottish Parliament's decision in February to press ahead with the repeal of Section 28, which prevents public money from being spent on the promotion of homosexuality in schools and elsewhere. As a result, Donald Dewar, Scotland's First Minister, has announced that a new clause will be placed in the Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Bill, which will require local authorities to encourage 'stable family life' in all their services relating to children. Material to be used in schools will have to be appropriate to the age, understanding and stage of development of the child. Mr Dewar reported that 'stable family life' is an inclusive term and that the Scottish Parliament does not wish to be judgemental in its interpretation of the phrase. The bill could become law by the summer. However in a recent private referendum, 87% of one million Scottish respondents voted against repealing Section 28. (Guardian 2000; 26 April, Guardian 2000; 28 April, Times 2000; 2 March, Times 2000; 31 May)

California prohibits same-sex marriage

Californian voters have approved a measure prohibiting recognition of same-sex marriages, even if legally performed in another state. Proposition 22 amended the state's family code to say: 'Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California'. 60% of voters supported the prohibition. Meanwhile, the bill has split the religious community. Leaders of Mormon, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Christian churches support it, while three Southern California leaders - Episcopalian, Lutheran and Methodist - issued a joint statement opposing it, saying it could lead to discrimination (Telegraph 2000; 7 March, Telegraph 2000; 9 March).

April 2000

Lords block Section 28 repeal

On the 7th of February the House of Lords threw out Government plans to repeal Section 28, which prevents public money from being spent on the promotion of homosexuality in schools and elsewhere. However, three days later, on the 10th of February, the Scottish Parliament voted to abolish Section 28 in Scotland.

Also on the 10th of February, the House of Commons approved legislation to lower the age of consent for male homosexuals from 18 to 16. This ruling cannot now be changed by the Lords, and it will therefore become law automatically in England, Wales and Scotland later this year. (Telegraph 2000; 11 February)

October 1999

Prostitution and pornography are thriving

The UN have disclosed that half a million women and girls are entering Western Europe each year to become prostitutes. Most are from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, where criminal gangs are making vast profits from the traffic. The report estimates that 15,000 Russians and Eastern Europeans work in the red-light districts of Germany. In the Netherlands, 57% of foreign prostitutes are under 21. Lithuania has become a centre for the export of women from the old Soviet empire to brothels all over the EU. This trade in women is worth $7 billion a year.

Prostitution on the Internet is thriving too, and pornography makes up 69% of the on-line content market in Western Europe and the USA. Between 50-70% of the sites that sell online services involve pornography and it makes up about 10% of all the economic activity on the Internet (Telegraph 1999; 13 July, Telegraph 1999; 17 June).

July 1999

House of Lords rejects lowering of homosexual age of consent

In April, the House of Lords threw out Commons-approved legislation to lower the age of consent for homosexuals to 16, prompting the government to invoke the Parliament Act. It will be six months before the Bill can be submitted again, when the rarely used constitutional procedure will be used to force it through both Houses (Daily Telegraph 1999; 14 April, Daily Telegraph 1999; 15 April).

American research fails to validate gay gene

Meanwhile, Canadian and US scientists have failed to validate previous research connecting male homosexuality to the Xq28 gene. They are now looking elsewhere in the human genome (BMJ 1999; 318:1362, 15 May).

April 1999

Teenage and Unmarried Pregnancies

Recent research by the Government has revealed that the conception rate for teenage girls has risen by 11%. The survey, Birth Statistics 1997, has shown that three quarters of the pregnant girls were 15 years old, and more than half had had abortions. There has also been an increase in the number of children born outside marriage from 23% ten years ago to 37% now (The Telegraph 1998; 12 December).

Boots, the chemist chain store, has set up the first family planning clinic in a Glasgow pharmacy. This is part of an attempt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies by making services more accessible. It is hoped that emergency contraception will be available over the counter at such clinics, reducing the number of abortions. However, pro-life groups are unhappy and suggest that this will encourage teenagers to have underage and premarital sex (BMJ 1998;317:1612, 12 December).

The Family Planning Association has launched a new initiative to get the message of safe sex across to university students. About £1000 worth of ten pence pieces have been scattered in 96 union bars, and when picked up, the coins are found to have a sticker describing the dangers of unprotected sex on the back. The combination of cash and beer has proved to be successful, and many students have found the coins and read the message (The Telegraph 1998; 11 December).

Viagra Deaths

One hundred and thirty men have now died after taking Viagra to boost their sexual performance. The US Food and Drug Agency claims not to be unduly worried, because side-effects have occured in only a tiny fraction of the six million Viagra prescriptions. Seventy percent of the victims had one or more cardiovascular risk factors, and 16% had already taken nitrates. Sales of Viagra have slowed in the light of these events, paving the way for a new drug called Vasomax. This challenger to Viagra claims to be twice as quick, does not cause visual disturbances and is safe for men who need to take nitrates for pre-existing heart conditions. Vasomax contains phentolamine mesylate, an alpha-blocker that overrides the nerves that prevent erectile tissue from becoming engorged with blood, whereas Viagra (containing sildenafil) targets an enzyme that regulates blood flow to the penis (The Telegraph 1998; 3 December).

July 1998

Bishop Blames 'Homophobic' Bible

The leader of the Anglican church in Scotland has accused the churches of 'homophobia' and has called the Bible 'our greatest danger'. The Right Rev Richard Holloway, in an address to the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in London, called the Bible 'flawed and fallible' and predicted that 'soon we'll abandon its ignorant misunderstanding of homosexuality'.

By contrast, Dr John Stott, Rector Emeritus of All Souls Langham Place, Central London, has said that homosexual relationships are 'incompatible with true love because they are incompatible with God's Law'.

Meanwhile, Peter Tatchell, the leader of the homosexual activist group 'Outrage', is standing trial for invading the Canterbury Cathedral pulpit on Easter Sunday, to preach a sermon of his own. The Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, was giving his Easter address at the time. (The Times 1998; 18 April:2)

Preventing Teen Pregnancies

More than 80% of hospital doctors believe that the contraceptive pill should be available to girls below the legal age of consent. 49% say doctors should consult the girls' parents beforehand and 55% say doctors should take the opportunity to give moral advice.

These were the central findings of a BMA News Review survey of 150 hospital doctors on the subject of under age prescribing. The equivalent figures for GPs were 94%, 67% and 38% respectively. The number of conceptions in girls aged under 16 has risen for the third consecutive year in England and Wales to 9.4 per 1,000.

But is contraception really the answer? There is substantial evidence that contraceptive failure is a major factor in unplanned pregnancy; 80% of teenagers with unplanned pregnancy in one study claimed to have been using contraception at the time of conception. 87% of teenage mothers in Britain are unmarried; the highest level anywhere in the world.BMA (News Review 1998; April:14, BMJ 1998;316:882; 21 March, BMJ 1995;311:807; 23 September, BMJ 1995;310:1644;24 June)

April 1998

Free and safe sex?

Most women regret having sexual intercourse before age 16 according to a New Zealand study published in the BMJ. More men than women said that both they and their partner were equally willing at first intercourse. Being forced at first intercourse was commonly reported by women, especially those who experienced it before the age of 14.

Early intercourse carries increased risks of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, which may result in long term health and social disadvantages.

A recent review highlighting the medical consequences of permissive behaviour reveals disturbing facts about homosexual longevity. Whilst the median age of death for married men whose obituaries were published in conventional newspapers was 75 (paralleling the US average), it was lower for gay men: 39 if AIDS-related and 42 if not. (BMJ 1998;316:29-33; 3 January
Evangelicals Now 1997; 10 December, Journal of Death and Dying 1994;29:249-271)

January 1998

Homosexuality debate rages on

The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev Richard Harries, has called for the age of homosexual consent to lowered from 18 to 16. He is the chairman of the Church of England bishops' group on homosexuality and a leading adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey. Bishop Harries once held the view that sexuality was fluid between 16 and 18. However, he has changed his mind in light of 'recent evidence' suggesting that sexuality is well formed by 16. This issue was partly dealt with in the last issue of Nucleus. He does not support homosexual marriages or blessings, yet calls for the abolishment of a clause prohibiting local authorities from promoting homosexuality. This would seem to be clear support for promiscuity.

There is, however, encouraging news on this subject. The vicar and congregation of Jesmond Parish Church, the largest parish church in Newcastle, has rejected the authority of their new bishop-elect because of his views on homosexuality. The Right Rev Martin Wharton said on his appointment that 'homosexuality within a loving permanent relationship is no sin'. Rev David Holloway, vicar of Jesmond said, 'I have a legal duty under church ordinals to drive away erroneous and strange doctrines...We have to be faithful to the gospel'. In a 22-page open letter to the Archbishop of York, Rev Holloway asked that a new bishop be appointed to lead them pastorally.

Bromley council in London has banned homosexual couples and single people from adopting children in its care. A spokesman said, 'We feel that such children should be placed in as normal and natural a home as possible and not have to deal with the stress of being in the care of a homosexual or a single person'. (Times 1997; 5 November:3; 3 November:5, www.church.org.uk/jesstate.htm, Evening Standard 1997;20 October:1)

January 1997

Furore over homosexuality

The wife of a London vicar has aroused the wrath of the Gay and Lesbian Christian Movement with a broadcast on the Radio 4 'Thought for The Day' programme. Anne Atkins criticised the Southwark Cathedral's November 16 Celebration of Gay and Lesbian relationships; labelling homosexual acts sinful.

While there is still no clear medical consensus on what causes a homosexual orientation to develop, the weight of opinion favours environment over heredity. The evidence for hormonal mechanisms, brain structure abnormalities or genetic influence as aetiological factors is less than convincing. The biblical position on homosexual acts is unambiguous (Lv 18:22, 20:13; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

Richard Lovelace sees the growing acceptance of homosexual practice within the church as due to a 'false religion' opposed to biblical revelation and the authority of Scripture, an 'antinomian ethic' that undercuts the balance between law and gospel, a 'cheap grace' that ignores repentance and a 'powerless grace' that denies the possibility of change. We concur.