ONE of The Northern Echo's columnnists became embroiled in a controversy of national proportions today - and I'm not happy about it.

The Reverend Peter Mullen is facing calls to resign as Rector of St Michael's, Cornhill, in the City of London, after writing alleged homophobic comments on his personal online blog.

This blog has nothing to do with The Northern Echo but the association is embarrassing nevertheless.

Mr Mullen wrote: "It is time that religious believers began to recommend discouragements of homosexual practices after the style of warnings on cigaratte packets.

"Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

Today's Evening Standard reported that Mr Mullen was facing possible disciplinary action from the Church.

I've defended Mr Mullen before on the grounds that The Northern Echo's columnists represent all shades of opinion. Their views are personal and do not necessarily represent the views of the paper.

He is an excellent writer who provokes debate but, in my opinion, he has gone too far on this occasion.

He insists it was a joke and defended the use of satire, saying some of his best friends are homosexual.

However, I've made it clear to him that I don't find it funny and asked him to set his comments in context in his column next Tuesday.

He has already delivered a letter of apology to the Bishop of London and removed the offending comments from his blog.