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"In many respects it does not surprise us since all calls to Anglican bishops to recognise the sexual abuse, exploitation and rape of adult women by their clergy are consistently ignored.

"If he cannot see that sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult, or children by Fritzl and others are indeed the far greater criminal acts then we now know why Bishops across the land refuse to deal with sexual abuse by clergy of adults.

"Climate change is the responsibility of Governments who need the political will to change their pollution outputs. The comparison between global warming and vicious evil sexual abuse for 20 years is facile and demeaning to the victim, who suffers greatly.

"Since he now believes global warming is as evil as Joseph Fritzl's behaviour we would now wish to hear from the Bishop of Stafford on how he is going to tackle the evil of the ‘fritzls’ within the clergy ranks."

Academics also joined in the attack. Leading sociologist Frank Furedi, professor at Kent university and author of the book Invitation to Terror, accused the Bishop of demonising climate-change sceptics.

"The Bishop's linking of the crime of child abuse with scepticism about today's received wisdom on the climate exemplifies a new kind of demonology," he said in an article on Spiked. "History shows that crusades against heretics and demons havem a nasty habit of disorienting society, and undermining civilised and humanist behaviour."

Other organisations, however, expressed sympathy for the bishop.

Donald Findlater, director of research and development for the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, wich aims to safeguard children from child abuse, told The Birmingham Post: "On the face of it this is an outrageous and offensive statement by the Bishop of Stafford. But we know that sex offenders don’t care about or don’t notice the harm they cause to their victims. I understand why the bishop would then liken other individuals’ disregard for the harmful impact of their lifestyles on the environment, which will, sooner rather than later, harm the lives and futures of our children and of future generations."

This morning, Bishop Mursell defended himself on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He said: "I don’t wish to shock people unnecessarily and I am in no way trying to imply that people who ignore climate change are child abusers - of course not.

"I am simply trying to use an analogy to get people to wake up to the consequences of what we are failing to do, because if we don’t there won’t be a future for our children either."

He added: “The problem with climate change is - as I heard Prince Charles arguing very eloquently a couple of weeks ago - that it is terribly hard to get people to see the seriousness of it, because the consequences are not faced just by the person failing to take action now."

He admitted that Fritzl was a revolting person and that it was hard to imagine a more "monstrous" crime.

Bishop Mursell said: "I think we have to try to find ways to get people to see the consequences of our failure to act on climate change. If we don’t face those, all I am saying is we are destroying the future of our children just as he did. Could you not argue that if there is no future for our children and grandchildren, we will have been guilty of committing the most appalling crimes as well?"

A Lichfield diocesan spokesman also defended the bishop. "Yes, at first glance, this does appear controversial but if people actually look at what he’s saying, he’s saying the actions are not the same but the motives are the same. The underlying cause behind a lot of these problems is this selfish nature; it is that sort of mindset that was being discussed.”

Mr Drake said climate change is an issue of concern throughout the Church of England. He said that although the bishop was not deliberately courting controversy, the publicity over his remarks had served to stimulate debate and attract attention to the issues he was discussing.