Living in sin is not evil, say churchgoers
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Your support makes all the difference.Ordinary members of the Church of England see nothing wrong in cohabitation outside marriage, according to a poll published yesterday.
The survey, commissioned by the Protestant Reformation Society, a fringe group of conservative evangelicals, shows the church moving slowly but steadily towards a more liberal line on sexual matters, and as overwhelmingly supportive of women priests and bishops.
Seventy per cent of all members of the Church of England surveyed, and 56 per cent of active members, said it was not "sinful in the eyes of God for a man and a woman to live together without being married". More than a third of the active clergy agreed with that statement, and more than a quarter of the retired clergy.
Those figures suggest that Something to Celebrate, the church report strongly criticised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, for suggesting that "living in sin" was not a serious matter, was in fact reflecting the views of the majority of lay people. Among those aged 25-35, those most likely to be in that domestic arrangement, the proportion disapproving fell to 12 per cent.
The Gallup poll also seems to suggest that cohabitation is the favoured solution for the Prince of Wales's marital difficulties, should he become King. Asked if they thought "the heir to the throne should become monarch and Supreme Governor of the Church of England if divorced", 32 per cent of regular attenders said he should, as did 40 per cent of all those describing themselves as Anglican. Only the active clergy had a majority for the Prince, though divorced, taking up both positions, of 45 per cent to 40 per cent.
On the question of whether the church could or should accept a remarried Supreme Governor, there was much stronger resistance among both full-time and retired clergy.
There was no difference among the public as a whole in the proportions disapproving of Prince Charles as monarch and Supreme Governor whether he is just divorced or remarried as well. In both cases, the figures were 43 per cent opposed, 37 per cent in favour.
Eighty per cent of regular attenders believe that the church should remain established, as do 55 per cent of the full-time clergy and 63 per cent of the population as a whole.
Seventy per cent of full-time clergy think the church should ordain women as priests.
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