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| Gay bishops: Peter Tatchell urges Jeffrey John appointment | Gay bishops: Peter Tatchell urges Jeffrey John appointment |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell says he hopes a gay Welsh cleric can now become an Anglican bishop after the church relaxed its stance on the issue. | Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell says he hopes a gay Welsh cleric can now become an Anglican bishop after the church relaxed its stance on the issue. |
| Jeffrey John, from Tonyrefail, turned down the post of Bishop of Reading in 2003 amid a row over his homosexuality. | Jeffrey John, from Tonyrefail, turned down the post of Bishop of Reading in 2003 amid a row over his homosexuality. |
| The Church of England's House of Bishops now says it will allow gay clergy to become bishops if they promise to remain celibate. | |
| Gay people in civil partnerships who are celibate can already become clergy. | Gay people in civil partnerships who are celibate can already become clergy. |
| Mr John, now Dean of St Albans, initially accepted the post of Bishop of Reading but then declined it in the face of protests from traditionalists. | Mr John, now Dean of St Albans, initially accepted the post of Bishop of Reading but then declined it in the face of protests from traditionalists. |
| He was also a candidate for Bishop of Southwark in 2010 but was rejected, with evidence emerging it was because of his sexual orientation. | He was also a candidate for Bishop of Southwark in 2010 but was rejected, with evidence emerging it was because of his sexual orientation. |
| In July last year, the House of Bishops (HoB) said it would review a decision, made in 2005, to allow the ordaining of openly gay clergy to consider whether they should be allowed to become bishops. | In July last year, the House of Bishops (HoB) said it would review a decision, made in 2005, to allow the ordaining of openly gay clergy to consider whether they should be allowed to become bishops. |
| 'Significant development' | 'Significant development' |
| The announcement has prompted mixed reactions within the church, but it was welcomed by Mr Tatchell. | The announcement has prompted mixed reactions within the church, but it was welcomed by Mr Tatchell. |
| "Any move to lift the ban on gay bishops in civil partnerships is a welcome move towards greater equality within the church," he said. | "Any move to lift the ban on gay bishops in civil partnerships is a welcome move towards greater equality within the church," he said. |
| "However, the lack of official statement from the House of Bishops or the Archbishop of Canterbury is perplexing. | "However, the lack of official statement from the House of Bishops or the Archbishop of Canterbury is perplexing. |
| "If the policy has been changed, it is a significant development and should be officially confirmed by Anglican leaders. | "If the policy has been changed, it is a significant development and should be officially confirmed by Anglican leaders. |
| "I hope this means the way is now open for Jeffrey John to be appointed as a bishop." | "I hope this means the way is now open for Jeffrey John to be appointed as a bishop." |
| Mr John is the most senior openly gay Church of England cleric. | Mr John is the most senior openly gay Church of England cleric. |
| He entered a civil partnership in 2006 with his partner of nearly 40 years, but is understood to live a celibate life. | He entered a civil partnership in 2006 with his partner of nearly 40 years, but is understood to live a celibate life. |
| In January 2012, he was reportedly considering legal action against the church for alleged discrimination. | |
| He has yet to comment on the decision to allow gay bishops in the Church of England. | He has yet to comment on the decision to allow gay bishops in the Church of England. |