Archbishop Vercoe says he did not dream of a world without gays, nor did he use the word “abomination” to describe gay people. In a letter to the NZ Herald, which the Anglican Church's media officer says will be his final word on the matter, Vercoe says he was taken out of context. “I am saddened that anyone thinks I accept anti-social behaviour toward gay people. We should always be tolerant of people who are different from ourselves,” he says. “My comments on a new morality were out of context. I believe a new morality will come based on the worth of human life and will question all the usual standards. “I do not regard the church as exclusively heterosexual. There're many good gay members of our church who make a valuable contribution to the life of the Church... I have gay members in my own family. Their sexuality has never stopped me treating or loving them like anyone else in my family.” Vercoe declined GayNZ.com's request for an interview, saying through a spokesperson that he would “prefer not to” participate in any further interviews at present.