WITH an ever dwindling number of churchgoers gracing the front door of their local parish, you'd think the major Christian faiths would be aiming to attract believers rather than repel them.

Yet it would seem Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen is determined to alienate as many people as possible.

Fresh from infuriating every sensible woman in the nation, he's now focused on insulting as many gay men as possible.

At this rate there won't be anyone left to offend.

First up, of course, was the Anglican Church's grand unveiling of new wedding vows which require a woman to "submit" to her husband.

In the wake of a subsequent outcry from prospective bride and grooms who feared they had accidentally booked their wedding ceremony in the wrong century, Dr Jensen sought to assure everyone there was nothing sexist about it.

Men and women are different and must therefore commit to different vows, he insisted, before criticising the "destructive individualism and libertarianism" of "secular views of marriage."

In other words, this whole equality caper is not only hopelessly misguided but quite selfish as well.

Mission accomplished, Dr Jensen was this week free to turn his attention to the gay community when asked about Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace's claim that being a practising homosexual was a bigger hazard to health than smoking cigarettes.

Rather than distance himself from Wallace's odious remarks Dr Jensen concurred - while offering pithy platitudes about doing so in a "compassionate and objective way".

Religion, irrespective of denomination, should never be used as a means of justifying sexist or homophobic views.

Dr Jensen is entitled to his personal beliefs but unless he wants to find himself preaching to empty pews it might be time to present a less divisive take on modern Australia.

Originally published as How to kill off religion