A FURIOUS row broke out today after Manchester's Co-op Bank banned a hard-line Christian group because of its `hateful' anti-homosexual views.

The bank, renowned for its ethical stance, has given Christian Voice 30 days from June 6 to close its account.

Simon Williams, director of corporate affairs at the bank said: ."They are targeting one group of society in a hateful manner.

"The bank believes in respect for all sectors of society and its approach to Christian Voice is based purely on the issue of diversity and not on the grounds of religion."

Politically-correct

Christian Voice is now calling for all Christians to boycott the Co-op in protest at the move. Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "The decision from the Co-operative Bank fits a pattern where politically-correct bully-boys try to attack Christian organisations.

"The Co-op bank, for all its fine words, is discriminating against us on the grounds of conscience and religion.

"Now we have found out how pro-homosexual the Co-op Bank is we would not want to do business with them, we would have jumped before being pushed."

Mr Green, the author of a book called The Sexual Dead-End, said it was a conviction of his Christian faith that homosexual activity is "sinful".

Is the Co-op Bank right to ban Christian Voice? Have your say.