Church of England to Elton John: Jesus Wouldn't Support Gay Marriage

Last month, Sir Elton John made headlines when he said in an interview that he believes Jesus Christ would support gay marriage. But not so fast "Rocket Man" -- the Church of England says otherwise.

According to Pink News,officials from the Church of England dismissed the pop singer's claims that Jesus would back marriage equality.

"If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was, and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen," the singer said last month. "He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that is what the church should be about."

But Bishop of Willesden Pete Broadbent refuted John's claims, when his comments were brought up at the Church of England's General Synod on July 11.

"The House has no present plans to draw on the services of Sir Elton John as theological adviser," he said.

Last week, a spokesperson for Christian Concern made similar statements.

"In terms of Sir Elton's comments about Jesus, sad to say, these are remarkably ignorant and staggeringly arrogant comments, presuming to dictate to Jesus Christ what he should think when the reality is he has spoken quite clearly on this subject," the spokesperson said.

Soon after making his pro-gay Jesus comments, John was put under the spotlight yet again when he said Russian President Vladimir Putin won't talk with him about gay rights because the Kremlin did not receive an official invitation from the pop legend.

"I am going to Russia in November and I will try and meet Putin and I will try and talk to him. I don't know what good it will do," he said. "It's no good putting up a wall and saying: 'I'm not talking to these people'; the only way things get solved is by talking to people."

This story is part of our special report: "Gay Marriage". Want to read more? Here's the full list.