Considerations are underway within the Church of England’s House of Bishops to amend the current ban on non-celibate gay clergy.
This comes four months after a British bishop - Nicholas Chamberlain - announced he was in a same-sex relationship. He became .
When the church expanded its laws to permit gay men to be ordained to the priesthood, it was under the condition that they remain celibate. If the current ban is lifted, it will mean gay reverends and bishops can engage in same-sex relationships, since they won’t be asked about their private lives.
Reverend Dr Nicholas Chamberlain (via Twitter) Source: Twitter
Under the Church of England, all reverends and bishops are permitted to have a marital life and the sexual intimacy that comes with that, but The Church of England .
The church does, however, to be ordained.UK MP Ben Bradshaw does not support the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy as he believes it forces men of faith to lie—a sin within the Christian faith.
The out and proud Reverend Leonard Finch from '50s period drama 'Grantchester'. (via ITV) Source: ITV
“It is progress for them to stop asking the celibacy question but it still leaves the Church of England policy based essentially on dishonesty and encouraging its clergy to lie,” he tells .
Instead, he suggests the church profess a less homophobic view towards its priests, or that the government gets involved, as it did back when the Church refused women entry into priesthood.
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