The real reason Reverend Richard Coles left the church adds weight to I'm A Celeb comments
In a recent installment of I'm A Celeb, Reverend Richard Coles shared his thoughts on being a gay priest in the Church of England. He mentioned to GK Barry that he has not struggled to reconcile these two aspects of his identity.
Reverend Richard Coles is among the contestants on this year's I'm A Celeb, competing for the jungle crown. Although he joined the show later alongside Maura Higgins, he's quickly won over fans on Twitter. Many appreciate his honest discussions about his sexuality and faith.
In the episode that aired on Monday night, Reverend Richard Coles, 62, had a conversation with his new friend GK Barry about how faith and sexuality connect with each other.
"Did you find it challenging to be gay while working in that field?" GK Barry asked.
Although the church has a long history of persecuting LGBTQ+ individuals, which is ongoing, the reverend expressed that he never once thought that God was opposed to him being gay.
"Not at all. I've never felt even a flicker of worry about whether God approves or not. As for what other people think, I'm more than willing to debate that…" he shared.
While a gay priest may appear to be a rarity, the reverend honored the legacy of the other LGBTQ+ religious leaders who paved the way before him.
"Additionally, I realized I wasn't alone in this. When I browse through writings from the early church or the medieval period, I often find myself thinking, 'Wow, that's really gay,'" he noted.
Why He Left The Church: A Gay Identity Struggle
After almost two decades with the Church of England, Reverend Richard Coles stepped down in 2022, mentioning his disagreements over the treatment of gay couples as one of the factors in his decision to retire.
In a conversation with The Sunday Times, he expressed that the only thriving churches are the ones that hold “conservative, strong, and fundamentalist” beliefs. As a gay man, he found it hard to reconcile with this, stating that he can no longer accept being treated as a lesser member in the community of faith.
"Over the last few months, I've received an increasing number of questions from same-sex couples who are upset to learn that their relationships are not eligible for a blessing. Some are seeking assurance that their children attending church schools won't feel uncomfortable being raised by two dads or two moms," he said. "Unfortunately, I can't help with the first issue because the Church of England does not acknowledge same-sex marriages, and I also regret that I can't provide support on the second point. We often hear that change is coming; we’re advised to be patient, and I have tried to be. However, I now notice that the direction of change seems to be leaning more towards exclusion rather than inclusion."
He went on to say that the church claims that everyone is accepted, while also urging individuals to give up a crucial aspect of their personal identity—their intimate relationships.
"You might assume that football would be firmly set in its ways, but it's evolving," he shared with the Radio Times, pointing to the support gay footballer Jake Daniels received. "Still, the Church of England—a group dedicated to promoting love, decency, and dignity—struggles to embrace those in same-sex relationships. It's quite disheartening."
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Image source: YouTube/ I'm A Celeb
