According to the Daily Mail Michael Claughton wasn't suitable because his great great grandfather was an Anglican bishop.
The newspaper said both teams wanted someone 'theologically neutral' including atheists to be the umpire.
The Vatican and Church of England teams will meet at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury on September 19.
The 65 year old said: "It's bonkers. This is church bureaucracy gone mad. They said to me - we'll probably be looking for a Methodist or an atheist.
"It's amazing really, I thought they would be glad to have my services, but they said I might be considered biased against the Catholics.
"People know me and I'm very well known in the cricketing world. It's been part of my life since I was knee-high to a bee.
"I really did question their reason for refusing me."