
Gay Clergy Defiant Over Celibacy Calls
LONDON, UK -- The controversy over homosexual priests
in the Church of England deepened yesterday as some members of the gay
clergy stated to The Daily Telegraph that they would not assure their
bishops that they will be sexually abstinent when they "marry" their
partners.
One said he was "furious" with how gay priests were being treated and gay
rights activists predicted a widespread revolt.
The anger of liberals and conservatives came as House of Bishops published
a guidance on the Civil Partnerships Act, which will offer same-sex
couples legal rights similar to marriage.
The guidance states that clergy may only enter into partnerships if they
first assure their bishops that they will abide by Church teaching that
sex should be confined to heterosexual marriage.
The Civil Partnerships Act will go into effect on Dec 5 and it's expected
that several hundred clergy will take advantage of the new law and most
will likely refuse to tell their bishop about their behavior in the
bedroom.
Rev Stephen Coles, the vicar of St Thomas in Finsbury Park, North London,
stated "If a bishop asks me if I am having sex I will say, it's none of
your business. Frankly, it is a breach of my human rights for him even to
ask." [Back to News Headlines]
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