Ndungane rules out same sex marriages

Njongonkulu Ndungane, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, says same sex marriages will never be endorsed and accepted within the Anglican Church in Southern Africa.

Ndungane made this declaration at a media briefing at Bishopscourt today. He says marriage between two people of opposite sex is regarded as a sacrament to fulfill God's purpose for humanity by the Anglican Synods and the church's global Communion. He says this standpoint will be tabled at a Global South meeting of countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America in Kigali, Rwanda next week.

"We have said quite clearly. No to same sex unions. We recognise that marriage is between a man and a woman and that we stand on the particular issue," he said. Ndungane says the Anglican Church in Southern Africa remains divided over the acceptance of gay people as members. He says while he cannot condone homosexuality, gays cannot be thrown out of church structures.

Ndungane claims priests who, as he puts it, have homosexual tendencies can only be accommodated if they pledge celibacy.