The South Wales Echo has issued an apology after an article by award-winning columnist Dan O'Neill was branded offensive by Christian campaigners.

Dan's piece – headlined 'If God considers gays an abomination why did he create them?' – made a series of tongue-in-cheek references to the activities of Jesus Christ and his male disciples.

Members of the evangelical campaign group 'Christian Voice' protested outside the South Wales Echo's Cardiff offices.

The Echo later printed an apology about the column and pulled the original story from its website, replacing it with a re-edited version with a different headline.

It read: "It has come to our attention that.....our columnist Dan O'Neill offended a number of Christians. We would like to apologise for any offence caused to those people who believe the article insulted the Christian faith, Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible."

But the apology in turn has offended atheist magazine The Freethinker, which accused the Trinity Mirror-owned title of "spineless grovelling".

The Freethinker has now launched an online petition calling for the paper to retract its apology, saying the move was a "shameful betrayal of its commitment to freedom of speech."

Media blogger The Cynical Dragon has also waded into the argument, calling the Echo's apology "absolutely disgusting".

South Wales Echo editor Mike Hill was unavailable for comment and other staff at the paper declined to comment further.

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