Comments made by the Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow do not represent the views of the SEC, Bishop Gregor Duncan says

The Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway has repudiated comments made by the Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral that expressed the hope that Prince George would be gay. The Rt. Rev. Gregor Duncan said the comments made by the Very Rev. Kelvin Holdsworth did not represent the views of the Scottish Episcopal Church and had been published on the dean’s personal blog.

Last year Dean Holdsworth wrote in a blog posturging people to pray the four year old son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge “be blessed one day with the love of a fine young gentleman”. Holdsworthy, a gay activists and progressive campaigner, tweeted link to his post this past week, in light of the interest surrounding the forthcoming marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Earlier this year the dean had gained notoriety by permitting Muslim prayers that denied the Trinity and divinity of Christ to be used at a service in his cathedral.

BIshop Duncan told the BBC:  “The comments made by Provost Holdsworth were made on his personal blog. As his blog indicates, the views expressed there are his personal ones. They do not represent an official view of the Scottish Episcopal Church nor are they ones with which I would concur. I will be discussing this matter with Provost Holdsworth.”

Anglican Ink contributor the Rt. Rev. Gavin Ashenden was asked by The Times to respond to the latest campaign by the dean. Dr. Ashenden said the dean’s remarks were un-Christian. “If you’re going to pray for Prince George, pray for him to be happy . . . and pray for him to discharge his duty as prince, to be married and have children,” he told The Times.

“It is not a kind prayer. It is not a blessing, it’s more like a curse from a fairytale. I would say it’s profoundly un-Christian,” Dr. Ashenden said.