George W Bush keeps up neutral stance on same-sex marriage

Former US President George W Bush has once again refused to answer questions on same-sex marriage, dodging an interviewer’s enquiry about his views on the “compatibility” of homosexuality and Christianity.

In an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Bush talked about a comment he made last week on his visit to Zambia.

A journalist had asked Bush if he believed same-sex marriage was compatible with Christian values.

Bush responded: “I shouldn’t be taking a speck out of somebody else’s eye when I have a log in my own.”

Today he told “This Week’s” Jonathan Karl he had not wanted to discuss the topic, as coming down on either side would be seen as a criticism of either President Barack Obama or the Republican Party.

“I meant that I’m not going to answer the question then and I’m not going to answer it now,” he said. “I just don’t want to weigh back in the debate. I’m out of politics.

“But I meant it’s very important for people not to be overly critical of someone else until you’ve examined your own heart,” he added.

Bush also refused to reveal his stance on equal marriage in an interview earlier this year.

Speaking to ‘CBS This Morning’ on 25 April this year, journalist Charlie Rose asked Bush about his 2004 endorsement of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

“Yeah, well, I’m not, I’m not weighing in on these issues, as you know, because I’ve made the decision to get off the stage,” Bush replied. “And so I’m off the stage.”

Laura Bush, who has famously disagreed with her husband on the issue of marriage equality, announced her support for the measure in 2010, during an interview on CNN.

Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to back marriage equality in May 2011.

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