‘Calm down dear’: how bishops talk down to gay people – by leading bishop

Gay and lesbian Christians have every reason to be “hot with anger” at their treatment by their churches, a leading Church of England bishop has insisted.

The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, said the approach by senior clerics, like himself, to LGBT campaigns for changes in the church was often no better than that of sexist men who tell enraged women to “calm down, dear”.

Bishop Bayes, who has spoken recently about reassessing his own views on homosexuality, urged non-heterosexual people to “bear with” the Church’s leadership as it considers a possible change in its stance.

Church of England leaders opposed the legalisation of same-sex marriage and have banned clergy from marrying their same-sex partners, although liberal clerics have made no secret of their dissent on the issue.

But bishops are due to meet next month to begin the process of “discernment” about any possible change in that position and whether to offer special wedding-like services to “mark” and “celebrate” same-sex relationships.

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