With reference to the ordination of gay priests (The Argus, October 20), the Anglican Conference in 1998 affirmed the traditional and Biblical view that sexual intercourse outside marriage was wrong.

This is the majority view of all the major churches in Christendom, including the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Even in the Anglican Church it is the fastest growing churches in such places as Africa and Asia that hold strongly to the traditional view.

This is also the view of Islam and Judaism.

Nowhere does the Bible condemn loving relationships between people of the same sex.

Indeed we have the examples of David and Jonathan in the Old Testament and Jesus and John ("the disciple whom Jesus loved") in the New Testament.

What the Bible condemns in both the Old and New Testaments is sexual intercourse outside of marriage and this includes homosexuality.

It is the modern obsession with sex that has caused the problem. The words "love" and "sex" have become interchangeable.

Christians would condemn homophobia in all its aspects.

We welcome and truly love all gays - but as persons, not sex objects.

However, our first loyalty is to God and his rules for the conduct of our sexual lives, which because we are fallen human beings we have all broken either in thought, word or deed.

However, we believe there is forgiveness for all sin (sexual or otherwise) for all those who repent and ask forgiveness.

Don't just knock the gays.

-Rev John Webster, Hove