[letmein]

The Church of England has suspended the bishop who called Prince William and fiancee Kate Middleton "shallow celebrities" and suggested their marriage would only last seven years.

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, said on Wednesday he had asked Peter Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, in northwest London, to withdraw from public ministry until further notice.

"I have now had an opportunity to discuss with Bishop Peter how his comments came to be made and I have noted his unreserved apology," Chartres said in a statement. "Nevertheless, I have asked him to withdraw from public ministry until further notice. I have also been in touch with St James's Palace to express my own dismay on behalf of the Church."

Broadbent apologized on Monday for comments he posted on his Facebook page, which were picked up and condemned by the British media over the weekend.

"I don't care about the Royals," the bishop wrote on the social networking website, saying he was a republican and that there were "more broken marriages and philanderers among these people than not."

"They cost us an arm and a leg. As with most shallow celebrities they will be set up to fail by the gutter press ... I give the marriage seven years," he added.

Broadbent was not immediately available for comment.

The Bishop of London said he had been upset by the comments.

"I was appalled by the Bishop of Willesden's comments about the forthcoming royal marriage. In common with most of the country I share the joy which the news of the engagement has brought," Chartres said.

William and Middleton, both 28, will marry April 29 at Westminster Abbey, and news of the wedding appears to have been well-received by most Britons, although some have questioned its cost when the country is recovering from a deep recession.

More than three-quarters of those surveyed for one opinion poll believed the wedding would be good for the monarchy while another suggested most Britons wanted William to be the next king instead of his father Prince Charles.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/403146...ple/?GT1=43001

[Vicky.]

Suspended for having an opinion

[Angus]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Suspended for having an opinion

No he is suspended because the Queen is the head of the Church of England, and he is technically, therefore, an employee and has no business speaking out of turn. Who the hell does he think he is? If he wants to express a personal opinion, let him hang up his cassock.

[Jordan.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Suspended for having an opinion

Its like this forum ;o

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Suspended for having an opinion

Indeed.......Don't agree with him but what ever happened to free speach......Say what you believe and get punished......This country has well and truly gone to the dogs.....

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by bananarama

Indeed.......Don't agree with him but what ever happened to free speach......Say what you believe and get punished......This country has well and truly gone to the dogs.....

It's got nothing to do with this country, the Chruch has made the decision to fire him because they feel he stepped out of line, and they have that right to do so. It's not the Government's decision

[InOne]

Bet he will go Catholic

[lily.]

Richard Chartres has beat the bishop...

[BB_Eye]

Utterly pathetic. All for having an opinion.

I hope those whinging twats at the Daily Mail are proud. This is a result of a campaign of bullying from the national press in my opinion. Shame on the church for letting them have their way.