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Bishop suspended over Wills and Kate comment
Queen spared the embarrassment of meeting Bishop Broadbent at General Synod
The Queen was today spared the embarassment of coming face to face with the Church of England bishop who said William and Kate's marriage would only last seven years and decried the "nauseating tosh" surrounding the royal engagement.
Bishop Pete Broadbent, who made the remarks on his Facebook page, was this morning suspended indefinitely as bishop of Willesden, London, shortly before the Church of England General Synod - its governing body - was due to be addressed by the Queen.
News of the suspension came hours after The First Post was tipped off by a source close to the bishop that he would not be attending the Synod meeting.
The decision of the Church to suspend the 58-year-old clergymen came in spite of his statement of regret issued yesterday. "I apologise unreservedly for the hurt caused," he said. "I recognise that the tone of my language and the content of what I said were deeply offensive."
Until this morning, the Church had stuck by its line that the bishop was entitled to his anti-monarchist views. But Bishop Chartres, the Bishop of London who is a close friend of Prince Charles, today ordered Broadbent's suspension, saying he was "appalled" by his comments. "In common with most of the country, I share the joy which the news of the engagement has brought," said Chartres. "I have been in touch in with St James's Palace to express my own dismay on behalf of the Church."
It is not known whether Bishop Broadbent decided to go to Calais for the day. That's what he threatened to do on the day of William and Kate's wedding once it's confirmed. "I think we need a party in Calais for all good republicans who can't stand the nauseating tosh that surrounds this event," he wrote on Facebook. ·
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How about the hypocritical tosh of a bishop who should be loving and treating his neghbour, albeit Royal, as himself? Give unto Caesar what is Caesars'.
At earlier times he would be beheaded but since monarchy lost its relevance it is nothing more than a church ornament
Can't fault the Bishop's logic myself. Although, as I predicted March 2013 as the date for the Official Palace Announcement of Amicable Separation in a sweepstake, compared to me he's a dewy-eyed romantic.
I'm not sure he is entitled to his views - the Monarch is the head of his organisation, ignoring whether it is based on a load of made up twaddle or not - He is entitled to his views as a private individual, but surely they are in direct conflict with his position as a high ranking representative of the CofE.
"I think we need a party in Calais for all good republicans who can't stand the nauseating tosh that surrounds this event," he wrote.
Couldn't agree more! Anything to get away from the Willy Wedding.