The row is embarrassing for the Archbishop because, although Mr Noon was dismissed in 2003, details have emerged only days after Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor wrote in a letter to The Times: "The Church has consistently spoken out against any discrimination against homosexual persons, and will continue to do so." He was writing to counter suggestions that the deeply held Catholic faith of Ruth Kelly might be at odds with her new role as Equality Minister.

Ms Kelly came under further pressure from family planning campaigners, who expressed unease at her appointment. Anne Furedi, the chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: "I find it strange that someone who is in principle opposed to women exercising their choice in respect of unwanted pregnancy can effectively deal with issues of equality, given that a woman's ability to control her fertility is essential to her ability to participate in the modern world on an equal basis with men."

Pope Benedict XVI has described homosexuality as "a strong tendency ordered towards an inherent moral evil". A recent ruling on the ordination of homosexuals seemed to indicate a slight softening, stating that ordination was not permissible for men with "deep-seated" gay tendencies but was permissible for those who could show that they had overcome "transitory" homosexuality for three years.

The Cardinal is regarded as being more liberal on the subject, but if faced with a situation that went directly against Catholic teaching would have had no choice but to take the action he did.

Ann Widdecombe, the Conservative MP and Catholic convert, defended the Cardinal. "The Church's teaching is very clear. It would be difficult if you had a press secretary explaining that teaching, while at the same time violating it. I am sure the Cardinal did it with much regret."

Gay rights campaigners were quick to condemn him. Terry Sanderson, a columnist on Gay Times and spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association and the National Secular Society, said: "The sickening hypocrisy is almost unbelievable."

Mr Noon, 35, a Catholic, joined the Archbishop's staff in 2003 as his press secretary, with a wide-ranging brief to improve the public image of the Church. He was in the post for less than a year.

Insiders say that relations with Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor started well, but deteriorated after Mr Noon's long-term partner visited him at the office. A source told The Mail on Sunday: "Shortly after, the Church made clear his sexuality was incompatible with the job he had to do. Since he was the spokesperson for the Cardinal, Murphy-O'Connor clearly felt he had to act because homosexual acts are regarded by the Church as a sin."

END

A dilemma rooted in the Bible Commentary

by Ruth Gledhill
The Times
5/15/2006

THE row over the sacking of Stephen Noon epitomises the impossible dilemma in which the Roman Catholic Church finds itself. It must either stand firmly by its traditional teaching, or set out down the path already trampled by the schism-wracked Anglican Communion.

Considering how the attempts to introduce equal opportunities for homosexuals in the episcopal Churches of Canada and the United States have led to the virtual destruction of the Anglican "communion", it is not hard to see why leaders of the Catholic Church will continue to act against practising gays when within their remit. Yet such actions are not taken by leaders such as Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor without awareness of the costs. A liberal, intelligent and compassionate man, he and other bishops are all too familiar with the Church's Christ-given mandate to stand up in defence of minority, persecuted groups.

One of the problems is the document that forms the basis of Church teaching, the Bible. Just as the New Testament has been used to justify persecutions and pogroms against the Jewish people, so certain Bible passages are taken out of context and used to rationalise discrimination against homosexuals.

St. Paul declared that homosexuals "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9; 10). God Himself said: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."(Leviticus 18:22). "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13).

With such passages to guide them, all Churches, Protestant and Catholic, have traditionally exhorted homosexuals to be chaste. This stance has, however, become increasingly difficult to justify. Even the Arcbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has suggested that once it is accepted that making love need not be purely for procreation, and hence contraception can be justified, the argument against gay sex is weakened.

But while some Catholic leaders might also accept such arguments privately, most must still abide publicly by the teaching from Rome, which is still resolutely opposed to contraception.

END