Church of England may soon have a gay bishop

Church of England should appoint Britains first gay bishop, says a senior church leader.

London, July 13 : Church of England should appoint Britain's first gay bishop, says a senior church leader.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said that he would be willing to consecrate Britain's first openly gay bishop, despite fears that such a move would further split the Anglican communion.

Morgan said that practising homosexuals should not be barred from becoming bishops.

He accused conservative Anglicans of being "exclusive" and narrow-minded in their opposition to gay clerics.

Morgan said that if his fellow bishops in the church in Wales voted for a practising homosexual priest to be consecrated, he would back their decision and approve it.

"If there was a candidate who was in a homosexual relationship that would be discussed," Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

"It would be my job to say 'you have to vote according to your conscience, but I'm duty bound to tell you that it will have repercussions as far as the wider Anglican communion is concerned.

"If they said they want to do that well so be it. If a priest had a partner and someone nominated them that wouldn't be a bar to them becoming a bishop," he said.

The Archbishop said that the Church should select people on their ability rather than discriminating against them because of their sexuality.

ANI