Anglican Bishop says 1 in 10 Bishops is Gay yet the Church still fights Gay rights
A serving bishop has issued a stinging public denunciation of “duplicity and hypocrisy” in the Church of England over homosexuality – claiming that around as one in 10 of his fellow bishops could be secretly gay but unwilling to speak publicly.
The Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham, accused the current episcopate of preaching a 1950s “Janet and John” image of human relationships while adopting an “eyes wide shut” approach to homosexuality in its own ranks and the wider church.
His remarks come in a new book published next week setting out what he sees as the theological case for a major reassessment of the Church’s stance on sexuality.
In comments bound to infuriate traditionalists he rejects outright the idea that the Bible forbids gay marriage insisting that the Church’s official teaching is largely based on “our grandparents’ cultural dictates” rather than the teaching of Jesus.
Dr Wilson also dismisses a recent order banning Anglican clergy from marrying their same-sex partners as unlawful despite what he calls as its “blustering menacing tone”.
And he hits out at a “tiny clique of reactionary activists” who he says have effectively determined the Church’s position on the issue for decades and left it, in his opinion, out of touch with ordinary people.
“To most English people under 40 a discussion of gay bishops or same-sex marriage feels as relevant and inviting as one about women being allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia,” he jokes.
The Church of England bans its clergy from taking part in same-sex marriage but permits them to be in civil partnerships – although they must claim to be celibate if they wish to become bishops.
But Dr Wilson effectively accuses the episcopate of applying double standards.
The book entitled “More Perfect Union?” is the first to commit to print rumours that a significant number of the Church’s serving bishops are themselves in gay relationships.
“Many who have publicly resisted same-sex marriage also have a dog in the fight arising from personal experience.
“This can arise from ambivalence or guilt about ways they have handled family members who have come out as gay, as well as their own sexualities.
“Particular attention sometimes falls on one vulnerable group with especially complex needs – gay Church of England bishops.”
Without naming any of his colleagues, he adds: “By 2014 there were said to be a dozen or so gay bishops.
“By definition, these men are outstanding priests who have managed to navigate the complexities of a structurally homophobic institution well enough to become its iconic representatives.
“They may well have a bigger investment than others in keeping the closet door tightly shut.”
He goes on: “They have more on the line than some others.
“They also have greater status and security, but some of them may end up among the last people able to understand the need for change and bring it about.
“This can be expected to be the case especially for gay evangelical bishops, with their historically less well developed networks and support systems.”
He goes on to single out the treatment of Dr Jeffery John, the openly gay but celibate cleric who was forced to stand aside from becoming a bishop because of his sexuality, as a turning point which helped “draw the bars firmly back across the inside of the episcopal closet door”.
And he describes the tenure of Lord Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, as a disappointment for those supporting a more liberal stance.
“It was hoped his learning and leadership would enable the Church to make the same kind of forward progress as other English public institutions at the time – unfortunately, the institution ate the man for breakfast,” he writes.
Last night Dr Wilson said was preparing for a furious response from many in the church, in keeping with the reaction to previous remarks on his blog about the subject.
“Initially you get an angry, hysterical response but it’s a bit like a baby burping up its dinner – once that’s gone there’s not much left and you can then have a reasonable discussion.
“I think I’ll get a range of responses – my favourite response to something I put on my blog was a bishop who said ‘of course I agree with the more progressive things you say but if I said that I would be crucified’.
“The answer to that, of course, is ‘well other people have been – it’s an occupational hazard.”
He added: “We are in a muddle and we really do need to engage with the problem for the sake of everyone.
“Jesus didn’t say anything about being gay, he did say an enormous amount about the professional guardians of the sacred who take themselves too seriously.
“I think we need to take note of that really.”
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