A GAY Gwent priest at the centre of a fostering controversy has slammed those who linked it to Archbishop of Canterbury designate, Dr Rowan Williams.

The priest, who has not practised for several years and gave up his licence to officiate at the weekend, told the Argus today: "I feel very sorry that Dr Williams has been dragged into this. This has got very little to do with him. He wouldn't have known about my fostering and he wouldn't have been consulted.

"His involvement has been an attempt by a small group of powerful people to dirty his name.

"I felt some sections of the media were trying to drag Dr Williams into the debate.

"I felt surrendering my licence would be the right thing to do, to try and deflect attention away from him.

"I worked only when priests fell ill.

"My church members have always been aware of my sexuality. It's hard to hide when I have lived with my partner for 22 years."

The priest cares for his sick mother and moved to the area 18 months ago to better accommodate her.

He said her care is not compatible with that of the 15-year-old child placed with them, who has a mental age of four and can become aggressive and difficult to handle.

But, the priest said: "The only other alternative was a home full of able children who have 'gone off the rails'. He would have been vulnerable to abuse.

"We love and adore him. Since this child was placed with us we have done all we can to find somewhere else for him.

"He couldn't speak ten years ago and he was considered a serious threat to people. But now violence and aggression are rarer.

"We have been attempting to find a family for him. The sad thing is no one is willing or able to look after him."