Saint Anselm

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Seal of Anselm as Archbishop of Canterbury
Saint Anselm (1033–1109) was a cleric and theologian, appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by William II in 1093. As a theologian, he is famous as a founder of scholasticism, and inventor of the "ontological argument" for the existence of God. As Archbishop, he came into conflict with King Henry I over the right of kings to appoint bishops and abbots.

Like other clerics and monks of his time, Anselm wrote in passionate terms to male friends, while avoiding any physical expression of that love.[1].

Bishop Michael Doe has speculated that Anselm's refusal in 1102 to publish the edict of the Council of London, which proclaimed that sodomy must be confessed as a Sin, is further evidence for Anselm's alleged homosexuality[2].

References

  1. John Boswell, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality. University Of Chicago Press, 1980.
  2. Michael Doe, Seeking the Truth in Love: The Church and Homosexuality. Darton, Longman and Todd, 2000, p 18.