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Diocese of London
UK News

Acting Bishop of London rebuked after calling High Church 'faffy'

Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, who is also the Bishop of Willesdon, described the tradition as "faffy ceremonial" during a conversation on Facebook.

He also claimed that Catholics perceive High Church Anglicans as sharing their emphasis on liturgy and ritual but "without deep faith".

Bishop of Wakefield Rt Rev Tony Robinson (pictured below, right, with Cardinal Vincent Nichols), an Anglo-Catholic, told the Sunday Telegraph the comments would be "upsetting" for those who hold to the tradition.

He went on to say: "We all need to respect each other in the Church of England; it's not right for anyone to disrespect somebody else's way of worshipping."

Diocese of Leeds

Bishop Pete's comments risked alienating High Church members across the Diocese of London, which he running until Sarah Mullally takes over as the new Bishop of London, in May.

Traditionalist priest, Canon Mark Gilbert told the Sunday Telegraph he did not believe Anglicans would take offence at Bishop Pete's comments, adding: "No - that's who he is".

Bishop Pete was briefly suspended from his post as Bishop of Willesden in November 2010 over comments made about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding which he admitted were "deeply offensive".

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