Letters: The Bible is not a moral manual

Sir: It is a sad reflection of the decadent state of the Church of England when a former Archbishop of Canterbury publicly states that he knowingly ordained practising homosexuals (report, 16 May).

Why, as the church's chief minister, did he not uphold the church's canon law? Canon C 4.1 states: "Every bishop shall take care that he admit no person into holy orders but such as he knows either by himself, or by sufficient testimony ... to be of good repute and such as to be a wholesome example and pattern to the flock of Christ."

Is it any wonder that the established church of the nation is reputed to be losing 300 members a week when its most senior leaders are so prevaricating.

The Rev NIGEL SCOTLAND

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire