Call for review of psycho-social factors in sexuality

Church of England Newspaper December 12

Relationships

Sir, Dr de Pomerai’s letter (9 December) highlights the “glaring omission” from the Lambeth 2008 book The Anglican Communion and Homosexuality of any discussion of psychosocial factors that may contribute to homosexuality. The House of Bishops plans to produce a consultation document on same-sex relationships in 2013. It is to be hoped that this will include the sort of “thoroughgoing review” of such factors that Dr de Pomerai has called for; it might also usefully include a discussion of how the biological and psychosocial aspects relate to each other in the ‘big picture’. Thought should be given, too, as to how the fruits of such labour might be disseminated throughout the wider Communion.

Dermot O’Callaghan,
Member of General Synod, The Church of Ireland