Today’s news from The Guardian that Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, blocks a decision to appoint a gay cleric, Dr Jeffrey John, the dean of St Albans, as bishop of Southwark demonstrates how a spiritual institution loses touch with the humanity it supposedly represents. Clearly, I don’t know the details of this incident and nor do I wish to; however, there is something fundamentally obscene to read that

The theologian [Dr Jeffrey John], who is now dean of St Albans and has entered a civil partnership with another clergyman, his partner of many years, has long maintained that the relationship is chaste and thus complies with Church of England rules for its gay clergy. [my emphasis]

Whose business is it what you do in the privacy of your own home between loving and consenting adults?

Apparently, Dr Jeffrey John was considered for the position of bishop of Reading seven years ago but had to retire because of a campaign against his appointment organised by conservative evangelicals. I don’t see how anyone could believe an all-loving god is also a homophobic bigot.