A vicar from the breakaway Free Church of England (FCE), Rev. Brett Murphy, has been dismissed after making controversial remarks about female priests on his YouTube channel.
Known for his anti-woke stance, Rev. Murphy sparked outrage earlier this year when he referred to Rachel Mann, the Church of England’s first transgender archdeacon, as a “bloke” and “fella” to his 14,000 subscribers. However, it was his more recent comments labeling ordained women as “witches” that led to his dismissal.
The Free Church of England stated that Murphy’s online content had “brought the church into disrepute.” Despite this, Murphy defended his remarks as “tongue in cheek” and claimed they were an exercise of his right to free speech. He remains personally opposed to the ordination of women.
In response to the dismissal, the church issued a statement explaining that confidentiality prevented them from discussing the case in detail but assured that the matter was handled carefully.
Murphy, however, condemned the decision, calling it a “kangaroo court” and describing the ordeal as “traumatic,” especially given concerns for his pregnant wife and children.
Since his removal, Murphy has raised £140,000 in donations to purchase a new home, gaining the support of figures like Calvin Robinson, who left the Church of England for the FCE in 2022 before departing the FCE in 2023.
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