One of the Church of England’s most senior bishops has compared the consecration of a gay bishop in America to the invasion of Iraq.

Tom Wright, the bishop of Durham and the fourth most senior in the English hierarchy, said both events showed Americans were prepared to act “how they please” with disregard for the rest of the world.

Gene Robinson, the homosexual American prelate whose appointment in 2003 led to the present crisis in the church, has compared his torment with the taunts endured by Christ at his trial.

Wright’s comments came at the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly meeting of Anglican bishops, being held in Canterbury. Wright, who represents moderate conservative clerics who, rather than schism, want provision within the church for conservatives opposed to gay clergy and women bishops, said: “George Bush said he was going to invade Iraq. Everyone told him not to because there would be consequences, but he did it anyway.

“The Americans floated the balloon in 2003 when they consecrated Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire. They knew exactly what they were doing then and they know exactly what they are doing now. They knew it would be unacceptable to the majority of the Communion. They are doing exactly as they please.”

He continued: “Either the rest of the world caves in or someone has to stand up to them.”

Robinson, 61, speaking before Wright’s comments, said of the row over his sexuality: “I always wondered why Jesus was silent at his own trial, but now I understand. When evil and criticism come your way and the temptation to return the evil is so strong, the best thing is to let it stop with you.”

Last night, the Vatican warned the Church of England that the dispute over gay ordination posed a “grave challenge to the hope for full and visible unity” between the churches.

It came in a letter from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state at the Vatican, ranked second only to the Pope.