Peter Mullen Says Gay Men Should Have Sodomy Warning Tattoos

Reverend Peter Mullen, who is the London Stock Exchange Chaplain, is in trouble after he wrote a series of articles on his blog denouncing dirty gay sex. Mullen wrote:

"Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

In the same blog, Mr Mullen, who is also rector of St Michael’s Cornhill and St Sepulchre without Newgate in the City, also calls for all gay pride parades – which he brands "obscene" – to be outlawed. In another internet posting, the rector wrote a poem condemning the blessing of two gay priests at a "wedding" which the Rev Martin Dudley performed at his church St Bartholomew the Great in the City.

In the United States many cities clear the streets for some gay pride parades, so children don’t see some of the participants having sex openly in the streets. I’d be offended if heterosexuals did the same thing in the street during a parade, so he might have meant the part about being obscene.

The poem begins:

"The Bishop of London is in a high huff, Because Dr Dudley has married a puff; And not just one puff – he’s married another: Two priests, two puffs and either to other."

In a statement issued to the Evening Standard, a spokesman said: "While clergy are entitled to their own personal views, we recognize that the content of this text is highly offensive and is in no way reflective of the views of the Diocese of London."

A source at the Diocese said the chaplain may now face a disciplinary inquiry over his comments. The source said: "These comments are now being looked at internally within the Diocese and he faces disciplinary procedures."

When confronted over his comments yesterday at St Michael’s Cornhill Reverend Peter Mullen claimed they were an attempt at humor. He said:

"I wrote some satirical things on my blog and anybody with an ounce of sense of humour or any understanding of the tradition of English satire would immediately assume that they’re light-hearted jokes. I certainly have nothing against homosexuals. Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion."

"What I have got against them is the militant preaching of homosexuality."

Nicola Beckley, who has been Mr Mullen’s parishioner for the past 10 years, said:

"He’s a great leader and doesn’t cloud his views in political correctness."

Should Mullen be punished for his statements about gays? The tattoos part is kind of funny. It’s kind of like saying masturbation will make you go blind.