Several protesters from the extremist gay rights group Outrage stormed the pulpit at Canterbury Cathedral as the Archbishop, Dr. George Carey, began his Easter sermon. The full Cathedral heard a spokesman for the activists shout at the congregation about their lesbian and gay rights for about three minutes before security people forcibly removed the aggressive protesters who literally surrounded the Archbishop in the small pulpit in the crowded nave.

After the protesters were removed, the Archbishop called the congregation to prayer and quiet---praying for "the peace of Easter" before continuing with his sermon.

This is the second time Dr. Carey has been confronted by Outrage protesters. The first time came during a photo call last year at Lambeth Palace surrounding a planning meeting for the Lambeth Conference.

Although damage was done to the Cathedral pulpit, as of this writing, no charges were being pressed by the Cathedral, though the Outrage spokesman was taken to the local police station and later released. He will appear in court next month.

Members of the congregation expressed sadness about the incident with one women saying "this was no way to seek support for a cause." In the prayers following the sermon the Cathedral dean prayed for those who "lived with anger". Some in the Cathedral were in tears and several children seemed bewildered at what had happened. A young girl seated near the press section clutched her mother as the protesters hurled their remarks from the pulpit, and waved placards. Easter, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, finds churches full and the Cathedral was no exception. The Archbishop greeted hundreds of worshippers at the close of service with many expressing concern over what had transpired.

Speaking to the press after the service Dr. Carey expressed his dismay that a Christian worship service was disrupted in this way.