Justin Welby says it is ‘very difficult’ to hold church together over sexuality

Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledges consensus is near-impossible after public criticism over declaration against gay sex

The archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged the near-impossibility of a divided global Anglican church reaching a consensus on issues of sexuality, after he faced sharp criticism for affirming a 1998 declaration that gay sex is a sin.

Addressing more than 650 bishops from around the world at the once-a-decade Lambeth conference, Justin Welby said: We are not at liberty to choose who are our brothers and sisters ... We should seek with passion the visible unity of the church. But that is very difficult, for so often it will lead to criticism in our society."