Tony Blair personally sanctioned the controversial appointment of a gay priest to one of the most important Church of England jobs as part of a Downing Street campaign to warn Anglican leaders that a person's sexuality should not bar them from senior positions.
Number 10 officials are understood to have been dismayed by recent Church infighting over homosexual clergy. They believe the Church is in danger of being seen to be out of step with modern society.
However, Downing Street's ground-breaking decision to install the openly gay but celibate Canon of Southwark, Jeffrey John, as Dean of St Albans in Hertfordshire plunged the Church into a fresh crisis last night.
John's promotion, recommended by the Prime Minister's appointments secretary, William Chapman - and endorsed by Blair - will also raise questions over the extent to which politicians should decide who fills senior ecclesiastical...
Rev. Colin Mercer | 11/19/2012
