Archbishop Glenn Davies has accused same-sex marriage campaigners of 'swamping the public debate' by denying free speech to those that are against it.

Writing a column in The Australian, the Archbishop argued that a plebiscite would reveal that the majority of Australians opposed same-sex marriage.

Dr Davies remarked that the views of gay marriage advocates have silenced the public from voicing their own opinions.

Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, is accused of misrepresentation and of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy, and he could be deposed if convicted. The allegations initially were made by a priest and parishioners in his diocese, but the case is being prosecuted by the Episcopal Church, as canons require for allegations against bishops.

Diocese of Southern Virginia Bishop Herman Hollerith IV is president of the Hearing Panel that will consider the case against Bruno. The panel, appointed by the Disciplinary Board for Bishops from among its members, includes Rhode Island Bishop Nicholas Knisely, North Dakota Bishop Michael Smith, the Rev. Erik Larsen of Rhode Island and Deborah Stokes of Southern Ohio.

Some in General Synod have held that the Church of England would do better if it severed its ties with the churches of the Anglican Communion. They regard the position of many of those churches on marriage and sexuality as primitive and embarrassing the witness of the Church of England to a secular society on the side of history.