CLERGY IN CALL FOR HOLLOWAY TO RESIGN

THE leader of the Scottish Episcopal Church faced unprecedented calls
for his resignation last night from his priests amid accusations that
he is at odds with the basic tenets of Christianity.

Richard Holloway, the Bishop of Edinburgh and the primus of the
Scottish Episcopalians, has infuriated the 54,000-strong church
community. Parishioners and clergy increasingly feel alienated by his
controversial remarks on drugs and homosexuality which they say
contradict Christian teachings.

Last week, the bishop admitted experimenting with cannabis and called
for a Royal Commission to review the subject during publicity
interviews for his book, Godless Morality.

The Rev Dr Kevin Scott, the rector of St Philip and St James' church
in Edinburgh, said last night that the bishop had turned his back on
traditional Christian teaching.

"For 13 years, he and I were rather at one with each other," he said.
"I worked shoulder to shoulder with him and he was a very effective
representative of the Christian gospel. Now there is little common
ground between parish priests and himself, and that gap has widened.

"I have to choose between fellowship of the Church's traditional
teachings and Bishop Holloway's teachings."

Dr Scott said that most of the clergy were unable to accept the
bishop's stance on drugs. "The drugs scene is morally harmful and it
makes us live for the wrong things. He should not be talking of the
decriminalisation of cannabis and he should not be giving a Christian
endorsement to drugs."

The bishop's stance has also angered anti-drugs groups. In his book,
Bishop Holloway says that drugs are natural substances which people
should take to escape from the pressures of the real world. He also
believes heroin should be available to addicts on prescription.

The Rev Paul Burt, the rector of Holy Trinity in Melrose, said that
the bishop was beginning to question fundamental aspects of
Christianity. "He is questioning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It's a bit like Alex Ferguson saying he doesn't believe in the
existence of football, but he still wants to be manager of Manchester
United."

The backlash from parishioners follows remarks by Bishop Holloway
earlier this year, when he claimed sodomy between priests ought to be
accepted and sadomasochistic sex should be tolerated provided it was
consensual. He has also espoused blessings for gay couples wanting to
marry.

Mr Burt said: "The majority of the congregation would not agree with
his views on homo-sexuality or drugs. They feel the bishop's views are
unrepresentative and some of them want him to resign. A lot of people
are asking how does a man like this become a bishop."

The Most Rev Richard Holloway was elected bishop in 1986. Now at the
age of 65, he could in theory remain in office for another five years.
A Church source who has studied canon law said it was virtually
impossible to forcibly strip him of his office. Only a trial of heresy
would result in his removal, but no-one was prepared to risk such a
radical move.

Another possibility would be a unanimous vote of no confidence in his
office by the remaining bishops which would place the moral burden on
Bishop Holloway to step down.

Canon Mike Parker, of St Thomas's church in Edinburgh, said the
bishop's public teaching and writings were "cutting the ground from
under the feet of orthodox Christians".

He said: "He is taking us in entirely the wrong direction as a leader
of the Christian congregation. Most of the congregation is dismayed.
We are looking for Christian leadership and we are not getting it. The
only honourable position is for him to move on."

Dr Scott said: "I think he wants to revise basic aspects of Christian
faith. He has come to the view that the Christian church learns its
morality from modern society. What he says is inconsistent with what a
bishop should say. A bishop is called to be a chief pastor, to guard
the faith. Clearly, if he isn't doing that he should find a role in
another walk of life which could be more fulfilling."

Last night, the Rev Richard Kirker, general secretary of the Lesbian
and Gay Christian Movement, rallied to the bishop's defence and said
it was unthinkable that he should resign. "What he stands for now will
in many respects become common currency within our lifetime," he added.

Bishop Holloway was unavailable for comment.

A Labour MP last night joined the growing number of public figures
calling for a review of the country's drugs laws as he admitted he had
tried cannabis while a student.

Ian Davidson, MP for Glasgow Pollok, said that he backed the call by
the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, for a Royal Commission
to investigate drugs legislation.

He said the effects of tobacco and alcohol could often be much worse
than soft drugs, and added: "You never hear of anybody committing an
assault under the influence of cannabis." However, he was "genuinely
uncertain" as to whether soft drugs should be legalised.