Gay clergy may 'marry' in secret
By Ruth Gledhill

Fears of an “inquisition” over gay marriage in the Church of England are growing after the latest comments by Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr Williams, speaking in Egypt, said: “If it can be established that a priest seeking to register a civil partnership is in fact active in a sexual union, then that priest is liable to the discipline of the Church.”

Civil partnerships between homosexual couples will become legal in the UK from next month, and up to 400 Church of England clergy who are in gay partnerships are expected to formalise their unions.

Bishops will be challenged on their approach to civil partnerships at the General Synod, which begins at Church House, Westminster, tomorrow.

The Rev Richard Kirker, of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, believes that many clergy will register their partnerships secretly to avoid what he describes as an “inquisition”.
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