Tories, Church Head Align to Defeat Gay Marriage

Conservative Party members in Britain have written to their leader, Prime Minister David Cameron, to urge him to delay a parliamentary vote on gay marriage.

The politicians warned that the ruling party will lose significant numbers of voters in the 2015 election if the plans enter law.

Lawmakers are due to get their first vote Tuesday on the proposed bill, which would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies. It would also allow couples who had entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship to a marriage.

More than 20 heads of local Conservative associations delivered a letter urging a delay in the vote to Downing Street on Sunday.

Cameron supports the bill, but the issue has divided his Conservative Party.

New archbishop of Canterbury formally takes office

The new archbishop of Canterbury on Monday formally took up his post as the leader of the world's 80-million-strong Anglican Communion.

The Most Rev. Justin Welby swore allegiance to the queen as he accepted the position amid prayers for him, his wife Caroline, and their five children.

The election of the 57-year-old Welby, a former oil executive, comes at a difficult time for the Anglican Communion, whose global membership includes the U.S. Episcopal Church.

The communion has been riven by bitter disagreements over female bishops and church teachings on gay relationships. Welby reiterated Monday that he backed the Church of England's opposition to government proposals to introduce gay marriage.

Welby succeeds Rowan Williams, who retired in December after a decade in office.