London, Jun. 6 (LifeSiteNews.com/CWNews.com) – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is under heavy fire from Anglican traditionalists after a newly appointed bishop—a personal friend of the Anglican leader—revealed that he is an active homosexual. Canon Jeffrey John, who was appointed in May to head the Anglican diocese of Reading, revealed that he has been involved in an active homosexual partnership for 20 years. At the time of his appointment, spokesmen for the Church of England said that, although he was admittedly homosexual and an advocate of gay rights, John was not engaged in any same-sex relationship. However, the London Telegraph has uncovered a talk in which the new bishop revealed that he has had a long-term homosexual partner.
Conservative Anglican clerics reacted to the news by demanding that Bishop John resign his new post, or that Archbishop Williams rescind his appointment. To date, the Archbishop of Canterbury has not commented on the furor.