Former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. Robert Runcie, admitted during a radio program that he has ordained non-celibate homosexuals, and said on the same program that the Church of England's policy on homosexuality is "ludicrous."

During the interview, the archbishop said he had never ordained persons who had told him they were practicing homosexuals.

"I have not ordained anybody - in fact, I have halted an ordination - when I discovered that," he said. "On the other hand, there have been times in my ministry when I have acted in a 'don't want to know' way and a 'why should I inquire?' way.

"And I never liked the prospect of inquiring into what happened in a man's bedroom unless he was prepared to tell me."

Addressing the fact that the ordination of practicing homosexuals is forbidden by the Church of England under canon law, he said bishops must "teach and uphold sound and wholesome doctrine.

"Officially, the line is that nobody can be ordained who engages in genital sexual activity, and yet you can be a member of the church if you do. Stated this crudely, it is ludicrous."