Williams Disappoints God in Not Taking a Stand, Says Gay Bishop

God is "very disappointed" with the failure of the Archbishop of Canterbury to confront the Anglican communion's outspoken critics of homosexuality, its first openly gay bishop says today.

Gene Robinson, from New Hampshire, accuses Rowan Williams of failing to stand up to Christian traditionalists who denounce the bishop's life as an abomination of the Bible's teachings, and threaten the communion with schism for not shunning him.

As the first bishop to speak of having a homosexual relationship, following his election in 2003, Robinson has heard Anglicans describe gays as "lower than beasts". His most vociferous opponent has been the Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, who likens homosexuality to "bestiality ... a form of slavery".

Asked on the BBC's Hardtalk program, broadcast today, why Williams had not confronted them, Robinson replies: "You would have to ask him that - and I think he will have to answer to God about that. I believe [Williams'] unwillingness to confront Peter Akinola and others like him who've made statements that I think any reasonable person would find over the edge - I believe God is very disappointed in that."

Robinson told his interviewer that he had received threats, and suggested the current climate could lead to personal attacks. "The rhetoric of those who would gladly decide themselves as anti-gay certainly creates an atmosphere in which a person who might contemplate violence would feel more justified." Language used by the religious right in the US against gay and lesbian people was "treating them - treating us - as if we are subhuman".

Nobody was available for comment from Williams' office last night. However a church official described Robinson's remarks as unfair: "The archbishop is nominal head of the communion and in a position of trying to work with both sides, rather than condemn one or the other. The church has said homosexuals can be ordained but asks they refrain from physical relationships. There is no place for homophobia in the church."

Robinson is in the UK this week promoting his book, Eye of the Storm. It is not the first time he has criticized Williams' leadership. At a spring gathering of US bishops, he said he felt abandoned by him.