From .......... The Adelaide Advertiser

Non-believing cleric sacked

LONDON: A clergyman who trains priests said yesterday he was saddened but not surprised he had been sacked from his post after admitting he did not believe in God.

The Reverend Anthony Freeman said he felt a great sense of relief when he admitted to himself he did not hold to the traditional view of God.

He was dismissed from his post as director of post-ordination training by the Bishop of Chicester, Dr Eric kemp, after being told his views were incompatible with his job.

"I was saddened that it was felt I had to go but I suppose it was unsurprising," he said.

Mr Freeman said he believed in a Christian humanism which meant God was merely "the sume of human aspirations" rather than "a supernatural being intervening in man's affairs".

In his book God in Us he said:

"There is nothing 'out there' and if there is, we can have no knowledge of it."

His refusal to withdraw the book from publication next month led to his sacking.

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