Rector condemned for 'sodomy' remarks
Monday, 6 October 2008
A Church of England clergyman was criticised by his own diocese today after he wrote that gay men should be forced to have "sodomy" warnings tattooed on them.
The remarks by the Rev Peter Mullen, Rector of St Michael's Cornhill in the City of London, were contained in a series of comments on his internet blog.
Mr Mullen, 66, wrote: "It is time that religious believers began to recommend ... discouragements of homosexual practices after the style of warnings on cigarette packets.
"Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."
In the same blog, Mr Mullen called for all gay pride parades, which he branded "obscene", to be outlawed.
He also condemned, in the form of a poem, the blessing of two gay priests at a "wedding" performed earlier this year in a City of London church, London's Evening Standard reported.
Mr Mullen told the Evening Standard that the remarks were written as a joke.
He said: "I wrote some satirical things on my blog and anybody with an ounce of sense of humour or any understanding of the tradition of English satire would immediately assume that they're light-hearted jokes.
"I certainly have nothing against homosexuals. Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion.
"What I have got against them is the militant preaching of homosexuality."
But a spokeswoman for the Diocese of London said officials had met Mr Mullen and it had been agreed that the comments should be removed.
She said: "While clergy are entitled to their own personal views, we fully recognise that the content of this text is highly offensive and it is in no way reflective of the views of the Diocese of London."
Mr Mullen is listed as holding the title of chaplain to the London Stock Exchange.
But an LSE spokesman said the title was a "complete misnomer."
He said: "It is a historical title which reflects the fact that the London Stock Exchange used to fall within his parish.
"There are no formal links between us and him in any way."
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Comments
36 Comments
Ask most homosexuals if they would like to be different, they'll say, "Hell No!' Why do we refuse to see it's a CHOICE? I say, we all could be homosexual if given the right set of circumstances. It's a sexual deviance. Like any sin, it's to be avoided at all costs. If we "entertain" sin we will eventually commit that sin. I choose to be faithful to my spouse, if I "entertain" cheating, I will eventually cheat!
Posted by Cheryl | 09.10.08, 21:40 GMT
Since when is TRUTH condemned for hate speech?
It is true that the average life expectancy for gay men is 45! It is true that the homosexual "lifestyle" contributes greatly to the AIDS numbers. It's true that it also contributes to suicide & murder numbers. This is not just another way to live life. It's perverse and definately against the Holy Word of God! Argue with God, when you hopefully get there, about why HE made it a sin.
Posted by Cheryl | 09.10.08, 21:21 GMT
He has also been quoted as having problems with Muslim men putting their bottoms up to pray. Not everyone sees it quite as he does. The man has a fixation on male bottoms basically.
Posted by lateralthinking1 | 07.10.08, 20:24 GMT
Actually... it's even worse. Joan says, "People who are born with this disability should be treated as other disabled people - ie tolerated - but never celebrated"
It's nice you "tolerate" disabled people, Joan. After all, like queers, spastics, Down's kids, cripples, palsies, blindies... they can't HELP it, can they? It's not actually their fault they're not so perfect as you, m'Lady.
It's good you "tolerate" people like Roddy Doyle, Helen Keller and a whole host of those nasty disabled people, but you'd never want to celebrate their achievements, would you? They're OK to patronise at your coffee mornings, but you wouldn't want to be seen out with one.
You're one of the most unpleasant people I've ever encountered. Worst of it is, you're like it naturally. Your bigotry is a part of you, like your blood.
Posted by Jon McCulloch | 07.10.08, 13:07 GMT
Is that not intolerance ? would his God approve ?
Posted by Rosie Glendower | 07.10.08, 12:49 GMT
Perhaps he's a very tight rector & cannot take it all in
Posted by RSBridgman | 07.10.08, 12:30 GMT
Although it is useful to have comments like Joan's in message boards - it's like a live history lesson!
"This is what people used to think in the olden days children, isn't it funny?"
Posted by Sara | 07.10.08, 12:11 GMT
Personally, I think Joan Walters is spot on. And I'd prefer "Arse Bandit", tattooed across the forehead. I think this is the way forward for a modern, 21st century society.
Posted by Count Viktor Tostov | 07.10.08, 11:53 GMT
Joan Walters, you're living in the past, sweetie. You are the disgusting one. Why do you care what people think inside their own heads anyway? Are you the thought police , the love police and the sex police all rolled into one? No, you're just an outdated bigot. Bye bye honey, the world's moving on without you! x
Posted by Sara | 07.10.08, 11:51 GMT
Joan Walters: "The vicar is correct - homosexuality is unnatural and disgusting. People who are born with this disability should be treated as other disabled people - ie tolerated - but never celebrated"
You know, I really believed this kind of backward, mediaeval thinking was extinct in educated populations. Amazing.
Joan, I presume you have used sanitary towels or similar at some point in your life. Last time I checked, they were "unnatural", too, because they sure as hell don't grow anywhere I've seen. And your using them is about as much anyone else's business as how people choose to use their own bodies consensually with others is yours.
As a side note, here's what I find offensive: religious people of ANY cult using their irrational beliefs as a cudgel to force everyone else into their way of thinking. I wouldn't dream of shutting them up, but let's face it: they're a menace to any free-thinking society.
Posted by Jon McCulloch | 07.10.08, 11:49 GMT
36 Comments