In the UK the Guardian reports that the bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, is "appalled" by Facebook posts by suffragan bishop Pete Broadbent, guilty of "disparaging remarks about the royal wedding". Bishop Broadbent "has been suspended indefinitely".
Although the Church of England - still established - aspires to be a 'broad church' it is of course still headed by William's grandmother, a person who inherited the position from her father. Broadbent's comment that he was planning to avoid the hoopla on the joyous day through a day trip to France thus put the official noses out of joint.
He has been criticised for suggesting that the marriage would last seven years (somewhat longer than many non-royal marriages), describing the wedding day as being surrounded by "nauseating tosh", likened the Prince and his fiancée to “shallow celebrities”, claiming that the Royal Family was full of "broken marriages and philanderers", expressing disappointment that the wedding would cost the public "an arm and a leg" and criticising the media for descending into "fawning deferential nonsense". On Facebook and a tweet he indicated "Need to work out what date in the spring or summer I should be booking my republican day trip to France".
Acutely, he commented that
I wish them well, but their nuptials are nothing to do with me. Leave them to get married somewhere out of the limelight and leave them alone.His subsequent apology failed to appease his superior, who stated that
In common with most of the country I share the joy which the news of the engagement has brought.Placing Broadbent in the sin bin is an argument for disestablishment.
I have now had an opportunity to discuss with Bishop Peter how his comments came to be made and I have noted his unreserved apology. Nevertheless, I have asked him to withdraw from public ministry until further notice.
I have been in touch with St James' Palace to express my own dismay on behalf of the church.
