Sir, We have been told that Canon Jeffrey John (letters, July 8, etc) is a friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The circumstances call to mind Jeremy Thorpe’s remark about Harold Macmillan, following the sacking of half his Cabinet: “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life.”

Now that Dr Williams has been transformed, in the view of many, from great leader to man of straw overnight, what can those of us who regard Canon John’s enforced departure as a disaster for the Church actually do about it?

We can ask the valiant Bishop of Oxford to refuse to appoint a new bishop of the poisoned chalice, leaving the post symbolically vacant, and we can lobby our own parish priests to withhold contributions to the diocesan fund. Those opposed to Canon John’s consecration duly won the first round by playing the “thirty pieces of silver” card, but the opera isn’t over and the fat lady is merely clearing her throat.

Yours faithfully,
RICHARD BROKE,
26 Priory Avenue, W4 1TY.
richard.broke@btinternet.com
July 8.

From Lady Fieldhouse

Sir, I cannot agree with Dr David Hope, the Archbishop of York, when he says: “It is very clear that ignorance, bigotry and homophobia are still very much alive. No wonder gay and lesbian people feel unwelcome in the Church” (report, July 7).

Surely the issue here is, do we accept the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, as written by inspired penmen and as the authoritative Word of God? It appears that many very senior churchmen do not.

The last chapter of the Book of Revelation makes the position clear — “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” — and that no man must take away from, or add to, “the words of the book of this prophecy”.

It seems to me that clerics of the Anglican Church are making it up as they think expedient.

Yours faithfully,
MIDGE FIELDHOUSE,
Ryde Place,
Lee-on-Solent,
Hampshire PO13 9AU.
July 7.

From Professor Elizabeth Stuart

Sir, Today must be an uncomfortable day to be a gay or lesbian Anglican.

It must be a frightening day to be one of the two gay bishops Lord Carey consecrated during his time in office. For in the logic of those who, against centuries of biblical and ecclesial tradition, have made sexual orientation a key test of Christian orthodoxy (I do not recall it being mentioned in the creeds or in baptismal promises) it may be “expedient for us that one man should die for the people” and the people, in this case the forces of conservatism and fundamentalism, have tasted blood.

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