Backlash as top Scottish minister says: Pray Prince George is gay
A CONTROVERSIAL clergyman has been engulfed in a row after advising Christians to pray for Prince George to be gay.
Calls were made for the Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, to be disciplined over his ‘inappropriate’ comments about the four-year-old Royal.
In a blog post, the gay prelate said Christians should ‘pray for the Lord to bless Prince George with a love, when he grows up, of a fine young gentleman’.
The statement was part of the 51-yearold’s campaign to speed up the introduction of same-sex marriage in the Anglican Church south of the Border.
In the blog, Mr Holdsworth said that if the future monarch and supreme head of the Church of England were gay, it would potentially be the ‘fastest way’ to force reform.
But the comments angered a former honorary royal chaplain, who described the idea as ‘profoundly un-Christian’.
The Rev Dr Gavin Ashenden was a chaplain to Her Majesty from 2008 until earlier this year, but resigned to be free to criticise Mr Holdsworth’s views. He said wishing for a gay prince not only undermined the child but caused ‘huge problems’ for the country and the Windsor dynasty.
He added: ‘I understand what Kelvin is trying to do but my objection is Prince George isn’t a media personality that can be used as a political football. He’s a real child with real parents. More than that, he’s a prince who carries an expectation he will produce a biological heir with a woman he loves. George will grow up with that burden, just like his father.
‘I have no problem with it but if Prince George was gay it would cause the country and dynasty huge problems and undermine his constitutional and personal role.
‘It is also an abuse of Christian prayer. It is an unkind, destabilising prayer. It is the theological equivalent of the curse of the wicked fairy. It is un-Christian as well as being anti-constitutional. It is a very long way from being a blessing for Prince George.
‘Kelvin needs to apologise and should have thought twice before choosing to use a prince to promote his own political agenda.’
Susie Leafe, director of conservative evangelical Anglican group Reform, said: ‘It’s clear Rev Holdsworth is prepared to do pretty much anything to get his way when it comes to same-sex marriage. But to give an argument bringing in a four-year-old prince is inappropriate.
‘As a church, we pray that children find the love of Jesus Christ
‘Un-Christian and anti-constitutional’
– to put the love of “a fine young gentleman” above that is wrong.
‘The comments show what Rev Holdsworth’s priorities are and as a result of this it might be appropriate for him to face some repercussions.’
Lee Gatiss, director of conservative Christian body the Church Society, said the comment was ‘cynical, secular and sinister in its approach to spiritual matters’.
Born in Leeds, Mr Holdsworth was educated in Glasgow. He played a key role in campaigning for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland in 2014. The Scottish Episcopal Church approved the ceremony in June.
Mr Holdsworth’s comments about Prince George were written in a blog posted in January. But the statements came to light again this week when he retweeted it.
The Rt Rev Dr Gregor Duncan, Scottish Episcopal Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway and Senior Bishop in the College of Bishops, said: ‘The comments made by Provost Holdsworth were on his personal blog. As his blog indicates, the views expressed there are his personal ones. They do not represent an official view of the Scottish Episcopal Church, nor are they ones with which I would concur. I will be discussing this matter with Provost Holdsworth.’
Mr Holdsworth did not respond to requests for comment.