Bishop Calls for Legalized Prostitution

CANBERRA, Australia — The police should turn the other cheek and legalize prostitution, an Anglican bishop said Friday.

The Right Rev. Owen Dowling, bishop of the Canberra and Goulburn Diocese, told an annual synod that legalizing prostitution is the best way to prevent the spread of disease and protect workers in the sex industry.

Dowling said he does not approve of selling sex, but believes society’s interests must be considered.

“I’m a pragmatic person and we have to consider what’s best for society as a whole,” Dowling said. “The church has to make its contribution at the level of what’s best for society even though we take a different stance ourselves.”