Church of England considering “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” system for gay clergy

The Church of England is thinking about bringing in plans to ignore the sex lives of gay clergy in a “don’t ask, don’t tell” system.

The House of Bishops is considering proposals to change the current ban on gay clergy who aren’t celibate to a system similar to the one used by the US military in the past.

This will mean gay people would not be asked about their private lives.

However, Labour MP Ben Bradshaw thinks this will make men of faith lie. Speaking to The Times, he said: “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.”

Bradshaw thinks that the Church of England should, instead, adapt to being more equal, or that the Government should intervene, as in 2012 when the Synod wouldn’t allow women to become bishops.

This comes just four months after the Bishop of Grantham became the first Church of England bishop to declare he’s in a gay relationship.

Speaking to The Guardian, Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain, said: “It was not my decision to make a big thing about coming out. People know I’m gay, but it’s not the first thing I’d say to anyone. Sexuality is part of who I am, but it’s my ministry that I want to focus on.”

 

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