A row has erupted after a vicar launched a scathing attack on a colleague preparing to bless the "marriage" of two women.
The Rev George Curry, vicar of St Stephen's and St Paul's in Elswick, Newcastle, condemned his fellow clergyman Jonathan Adams for conducting the ceremony.
The Chronicle revealed yesterday how Mr Adams will back sex-swap patient Mitch Gardner and his fiancee Elaine Gardner who plan to tie the knot in July.
Mitch, 32, was born a woman but is to undergo a sex-change operation.
But today Mr Curry, said: "What Jonathan Adams is doing is tantamount to blasphemy. You cannot invoke God's blessing for something which is an abomination.
"All same sex relationships are always wrong and detestable. They should never ever take place in any form. To condone such a relationship is to institutionalise immorality.
"They are against the teaching of the Bible. We are living in a world of more sin and if the Church becomes flabby in its teaching of the Bible it will turn itself into an irrelevance."
Eileen and Mitch - who was born Michelle - hope to have a white wedding at St James' Church in Northumberland Road, Newcastle.
The pair from Heaton found love after meeting in a Tyneside pub and moved in together two years ago.
Mr Curry denied he was inciting homophobia saying Christian belief was to hate the sin but not the sinner.
He said: "I love murderers, fornicators and others, though I don't support what they do.
"This couple would be welcome in my church because Christians are gracious, compassionate and loving.
"But the couple should not expect to hear anything that is outside the Bible and the Church is very clear on its teaching.
"Even outside the Church, I cannot support this blessing. It doesn't make it right.
"If most clergy do not embrace what I am saying, then there is something seriously wrong. I am being faithful to the Bible."
The wedding will end years of heartache and depression for Mitch, who had tried to kill himself following taunts about his sexuality.
Mr Adams, a member of the Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement, has already performed several "wedding" services for gay couples.
Mr Adams said: "I think it is more important to endorse two people's exclusive commitment to each other.
"It won't be regarded as a legal wedding but we will have a certificate drawn up."
The Church of England is opposed to gay marriage although many clergy have spoken in favour of homosexual couples.
The Rt Rev Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle, said: "This is not a marriage and the Church is against same-sex couples.
"But I would expect all my clergy to deal sensitively towards all people coming to them."
