The former Archbishop of Canterbury has said 'people with opposing views on controversial issues such as same-sex marriage should not be labelled as monstrous'

The comments Lord Williams will make will be part of his talk for the BBC’s Radio 4 Reith Lectures series. 

As seen by The Telegraph, in a copy of his speech he warns moral debates, on contentious issues such as same-sex marriage assisted dying and abortion- are quickly seen as "monstrous and oppressive."

His speech continues saying: "It won’t do to demonise those with inconvenient consciences as automatically monstrous and oppressive. 

"You can’t simply ascribe deliberately evil intention to someone who disagrees on principle with the principles you think self-evident. Think, for example, of the debates over abortion or physician-assisted dying."

Lord Williams will deliver the comments as part of four speakers in the broadcaster's centenary year on Radio 4. 

His speech further says: "What about the evangelical registrar who will not solemnise same-sex marriages? What about the legal allowances made for Catholic doctors who will not perform abortions? How disruptive can the public manifestation of convictions be allowed to become in a diverse society?

"Questions like these have become weaponised in the current culture wars raging across North Atlantic societies in particular, in ways that more or less rule out nuanced exploration of what’s going on."