The former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, has claimed that Elton John and David Furnish’s new baby psychological welfare is at risk.
Rev Nazir-Ali said he was concerned that baby Zachary had been born by surrogate mother to two fathers and suggested that John was too old to be a dad at the age of 64.
He told the Daily Telegraph that surrogacy introduces a “third party” which will “affect the welfare of the child, psychologically and in other ways”.
He added that parents should be of an age that “provides the child with a fair chance of being brought up by them without unnecessary disruption” and said that all evidence shows that children are best brought up in a heterosexual “stable” marriage in order to have “healthy relationships”.
In 2009, during London Pride, Rev Nazir-Ali called on gay people to “repent and be changed” and said the Church of England must not be “rolled over by culture.”
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell called on the bishop to “repent his homophobia.”
John and Furnish have chosen a lesbian couple to act as godparents to Zachary.
Instead of looking to their celebrity friends, the couple reportedly asked close friends Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant.
Ms Sischy and Ms Brant were part of a small circle who were told that John and Furnish were expecting a baby by surrogate.
A source told the Daily Mail: “Ingrid and Sandy are two of the most genuine people they know. They were among a handful of people Elton entrusted with the details of the surrogate pregnancy.
“Zachary means everything to Elton and David and they have chosen Ingrid and Sandy as godmothers for the traditional reason: to take care of the child’s welfare in case something happens to them.”
The couple may chose more godparents. John is a godfather to a number of celebrities’ children, including David and Victoria Beckham’s three sons.
Baby Zachary was born on Christmas Day.
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