Religion

Gay relationships can "reflect the love of God" in a way that is comparable to marriage, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

In a series of letters from 2000 and 2001, when he was still archbishop of Wales, Williams wrote that scriptural prohibitions against homosexuality, such as those in Leviticus, were addressed "to heterosexuals looking for sexual variety in their experience".

In the correspondence, an exchange with an evangelical Christian, Williams argued that passages criticising homosexual activity were not aimed at people who were gay by nature.

Read more: Gay couples reflect the love of God

The consecration of a gay Anglican bishop has led to sexual license, a new form of colonisation and ridicule for the church, it was claimed yesterday by bishops attending the Lambeth conference in Canterbury.

They aired their grievances during group discussions about the US Episcopal church's decision to consecrate Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

In a first draft of these reflections on human sexuality, they explained why the issue of gay and lesbian relations was sensitive and why it posed a challenge for Anglicans around the world.

"In some places the church is ridiculed as the gay church so membership is lost. It is experienced as a new form of colonisation," the draft said. "It is seen as leading to sexual license. Bishops cannot be a symbol for unity when their consecration divides the church. In some regions the issue has become a basis for hostile actions."

Read more: Gay bishop ridicule for Anglicans

A gay church worker claims he was bullied out of his job by a manager who "would say something about gay sex every day".

Stephen Price, 25, of Clydach, near Abergavenny, said Mair Jones, 40, turned "every conversation" to sex.

Mr Price is claiming sexual harassment and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation against the Presbyterian Church of Wales. The church denies the charges. The Cardiff employment tribunal continues.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Price, who is openly gay, said he worked alongside Ms Jones at the church's 250-year-old Trefeca centre, a 37-bed retreat near Brecon, Powys, visited by church groups from around Britain.

He told the hearing he was forced to quit as the assistant manager because of Ms Jones's ceaseless comments about sex, which included calling him a "stupid poof".

Read more: Gay church worker branded "Stupid Poof"

The Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned death threats made against the leader of a group representing homosexual Anglicans in England.

Dr Rowan Williams said threats against Rev Colin Coward, director of Changing Attitude, marked the "latest round of unchristian bullying". He was also criticising assaults on gay Anglicans in Nigeria. His comments follow a global dispute over homosexuality in the worldwide Anglican Church in recent years.

The divisions in the church over homosexuality began with the ordination of a gay bishop by the liberal American branch of Anglicanism, the Episcopal Church, in 2003.

Read more: Archbishop criticises gay threats

Doctor Who’s openly gay boss Russell T Davies has been nominated for a major prize – from a Right-wing Christian group.

The narrow-minded folk of “American Christian family values” mag Movieguide – which spends its days warning about “immoral” content in TV shows, such as homosexuality – have singled out the Welsh writer for praise.

They reckon episode three of last year’s series, Gridlock, could win one of their odd Epiphany Prizes.

The gongs reward TV shows and movies that “seek to create a deeper spiritual awareness in mankind and increase Man’s love and understanding of God”. The prize is a whopping 50,000 US dollars (£25,000).

Read more: Gay Atheist up for right-wing Christian Award!