Such is the level of homophobia in the Catholic Church that its schools should be taken from it and returned to the community sector, says the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).

Reacting to a House of Commons Select Committee report, published today, which shows that the Catholic Church is refusing to tackle homophobic bullying in its schools, GALHA's secretary George Broadhead said: "We've seen homophobia in Catholic circles rising at a terrifying rate over the past few months. The Pope is almost hysterical on the topic and the British Catholic hierarchy is constantly agitating to retard gay rights. What chance have gay pupils got in schools which are run by an organisation that hates them?

"For the sake of these children and for the community at large which should be protected from the promotion of bigotry in schools, the Catholic Church should be stripped of its educational establishments. Let us not forget that these schools are paid for entirely by the taxpayer - in effect, we are all funding the unchecked bullying of gay children. Well, that's not how I want my tax contributions spent."

Mr Broadhead said that Catholic schools should be returned to the control of the local authority and opened up to everyone in the community.

"It is appalling that there are gay pupils in these establishments being bullied not only physically but also psychologically by the message they are getting from the Church authorities. Somebody has to speak up for them, and I am pleased that the Government recognises that gay kids are at particular risk in Catholic schools."