New woman bishop’s silence on gay rights

NEWLY-APPOINTED Bishop of London Sarah Mullally refused yesterday to say where she stands on gay rights – the Church of England’s most damaging division.

Arguments over the status of samesex relationships and gay clergy have left the CofE and Anglican churches around the world hopelessly split.

Bishop Mullally, who will be number three in the Church’s hierarchy, withheld her own thinking in an interview for Radio 4’s Today programme.

Asked how she would vote when the CofE’s parliament, the General Synod, next considers if churches should offer blessings for same-sex couples, she said: ‘What we have to remember is that this is about people and the Church seeks to demonstrate love to all.’

Bishop Mullally, 55, said the CofE has ‘a real diversity’ and is entering ‘a period of reflection’. She added: ‘There is work going on and I am involved in that. It is important that we take a timely reflection while standing on the tradition of the Church of England.’