Church of England could instate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gay clergy

The Church of England is considering taking a leaf from an old US Army policy on how to treat homosexual members of their clergy.

Gay priest

The Church of England is considering taking a leaf from an old US Army policy on how to treat homosexual members of their clergy. Source: Getty

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.
nicholas chamberlain
Reverend Dr Nicholas Chamberlain (via Twitter) Source: Twitter
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.

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.
leonard finch grantchester
The out and proud Reverend Leonard Finch from '50s period drama 'Grantchester'. (via ITV) Source: ITV
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.

“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.


Shaun Micallef's Stairway to Heaven airs on SBS on Wednesdays at 8.30pm. Watch all the episodes online after they air on . Watch the first episode below:




Share
2 min read
Published 24 January 2017 5:16pm
By Shami Sivasubramanian


Share this with family and friends