The Anglican Bishop of Bermuda has fired a booming broadside at church critics, claiming they targeted him for "character assassination''.

The Rt. Rev. William Down accused them of mounting cowardly attacks over his choice of a new Archdeacon.

"Character assassination has no place in a Christian's armoury,'' he declared. "If you can't say a thing directly to a person's face then you shouldn't say it at all.'' Bishop Down goes on the offensive in this month's edition of Bermuda Diocesan News.

It follows the storm in June over his appointment of the Rev. Ewen Ratteray as Archdeacon.

Fr. Ratteray, of St. John's Church, Pembroke, replaces the Ven. Thomas Dyson who retires on September 21.

The Royal Gazette understands several senior members of Bermuda's Anglican clergy -- enraged at not being consulted over the appointment -- confronted the Bishop.

They are said to have accused him of arrogance.

Canon Thomas Nisbett of Christ Church said senior clergymen were "unhappy'' with the unexpectedness of the announcement.

He added they were also disturbed the "least senior member'' of the Anglican clergy had been chosen.

The criticism was carried in a series of articles by The Royal Gazette .

In the newsletter the Bishop says "the expressions of disapproval were vented publicly in a particularly unpleasant manner''.

"I have been saddened by these public outbursts. I realise that from beginning of time God's people have sometimes disagreed with each other sincerely and strongly over various issues.

"Sometimes our feelings are so strong that we can scarcely contain ourselves.'' He points out disagreements among Christians does not have to cause problems.

It is not good to be surrounded by "yes men''.

"The problems arise when the disagreement gets out of proportion and rash words and actions follow,'' he said. "What particularly saddened me about some of the personal attacks launched anonymously by some Church people here was the way in which the truth was handled -- or mishandled.

"One particular article contained numerous wild, unfounded and untrue allegations.

"I could not see how anybody could have made them responsibly. Such allegations, as well as being personally hurtful to the individuals concerned, are harmful to the people who make them.

"It is cowardly to shelter under the cloak of anonymity when attacking another person's character.

"It also causes harm to the personality of the person making the attack, because it arouses unhealthy emotions and encourages a lack of a sense of personal responsibility and integrity.

"If you can't say a thing directly to a person's face they you shouldn't say it at all.

"My decision to appoint Fr. Ratteray as Archdeacon was not taken lightly.

"I weighed up all the various factors over a long period of time. I spent much time in prayer about it.

"I also knew that whatever decision I made would be wrong as far as some people were concerned.

"But having made the decision I was prepared to face criticism (in fact, I received overwhelming support from many people -- black and white, male and female.).

"What I did not expect was character assassination. Character assassination has no place in a Christian's armoury.

"A Christian is called to show in his or her life the fruit of the Spirit -- and the fruit of the Spirit is `love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control'.''