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Archbishops to ask clergy: 'Are you having gay sex?'

Openly gay clerics will be questioned about the intimate detail of their sex life on behalf of the Archbishops of Canterbury or York before they can be considered to be a bishop, the Church of England has disclosed.

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Would be priests to be questioned about the details of their sex lives
Dr Jeffrey John, who is in a celibate civil partnership, was twice in line to become a bishop but his appointment was blocked because of opposition from conservatives within the Church

A legal briefing sent to members of the General Synod reveals that under a new policy any priest in a civil partnership will have to convince an archbishop that they are not sexually active before their name can go forward.

It was drawn up in light of a u-turn by the church last year which lifted a blanket ban on anyone in a civil partnership becoming a bishop.

The House of Bishops voted in December to allow priests in same-sex unions to be considered as long as they claim not to be sexually active.

The decision was met with criticism from both liberals and traditionalists alike and triggered open calls from some clergy for their gay counterparts simply to lie.

Gay rights campaigners derided the new policy questioning how the Church of England planned to “police” it.

A briefing paper drawn up by the church’s legal office, assessing the implications of the new policy under the Equality Act, says that sexual orientation should be “irrelevant” in assessing someone’s suitability to become a bishop.

But it maintains the requirement for celibacy adding that bishops' private lives must be in accordance with official church teaching and that they must set “wholesome examples” to the “flock of Christ”.

It goes on: “Before a priest in a civil partnership can be considered for episcopal nomination the archbishop of the province in which he is serving will wish to satisfy himself, following discussions between the diocesan bishop and the clergyman concerned, that his life is, and will remain, consistent with the teaching of the Church of England.

“As explained in the Archbishops’ guidelines, these assurances will be sought before a candidate comes to be considered for nomination to a diocesan or suffragan see.”

The Church of England has unveiled details of how it hopes to revive plans for women to become bishops, which were rejected by the Synod last year despite strong support.

A report by the House of Bishops, ahead of the first Synod debates on a new fast-track plan, warns that Parliament is likely to step in if the measure is defeated again.

The Secretary General to the Synod William Fittall said there was a strong desire to avoid a second “train crash”.

Under the new plans no traditionalist bishop would be able to declare their diocese a “no-go zone” for women’s ordination, as they presently can. It would mean that every diocese would have to have at least one bishop willing to ordain women priests. At present Chichester does not.