Bishop attacks 'gay weddings'

One of the most outspoken and conservative leaders of the Church of England is set to call for tougher sanctions against clergy who tolerate same sex-unions and the ordination of gay priests.

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester, was expected to make the remarks during an address to a breakaway conference in Jerusalem last night which has been organised by more than 200 traditionalist bishops angry at the tolerance of homosexuality in Western dioceses.

Bishop Nazir-Ali caused outrage recently by claiming Christians should be doing more to convert Muslims and that Islam has helped create "no-go" areas in some cities. He will argue that clergy who preside over same-sex unions or support the ordination of gay priests do so in contravention of the Anglican Church's teachings on homosexuality.

The Global Anglican Future Conference is being held in Jerusalem two weeks before the Lambeth Conference, a meeting of Anglican bishops which isheld once a decade.

The Rt Rev Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes, and the Rt Rev Peter Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, are also expected to boycott Lambeth.