Priest says Church of England is 'abusive' to women

A woman priest in Durham has compared senior Church of England figures to wife beaters.

The Rev Miranda Threlfall-Holmes is critical of plans to limit the rights of women to become bishops. In her blog entitled "The Battered Bride of Christ", she questioned why women should stay in the church.

In another passage, she compares bishops to a man who gouged his wife's eyes out and then kept her in the house for 12 hours to stop her getting medical attention.

The post has now been removed from her blog.

She's apologised for any offence her comments caused, but says she stands by the sentiment.

Proposals to create women bishops have been controversial. The Church's General Synod is expected to vote on proposals in July.

But at a closed meeting of its House of Bishops, an amendment was added that refused to accept the authority of a woman to opt out and have an alternative bishop.