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."