Is the ongoing debate on attitudes to homosexuality within the Anglican Church really a profound ethical dilemma of national importance?

After all, who really cares? Less than five per cent of the UK population are typically found in Church of England congregations, and the overwhelming majority of the country never participates in any regular act of denominational worship.

In fact, the majority of practicing Anglicans are African, and if regular attendance at church or temple is the key variable in determining the national religion the UK has been a Muslim country for some decades!

A more pressing ethical issue is why in a modern democracy are non-elected, and non-representative Anglican bishops homosexual or otherwise still permitted to sit in the reconstituted House of Lords, and the proposed new second chamber?

In consequence, these rather strange men in shimmering frocks and bizarre headgear are instrumental in determining legislation that affects us all! Perhaps someone will enlighten us as to why this historical anachronism is still being perpetuated?

Larry Wright

Old Town