Although it has not been done before, any incitement to violence towards homosexuals could be prosecuted under the Public Order Act of 1986.
The Human Rights Act 1998 has sections protecting freedom of expression.
But gay campaigners said last night that, though they disagreed strongly with Bishop Forster, they thought most people would only see his views as outdated.
David Allison, spokesman for gay pressure group Outrage, said: "I doubt that he has broken any laws.
"The laws the police will look at, I assume, are those involving the use of language to stir up hatred. If he says that gay people should all be stoned to death, then yes, he's broken the law.
"He's just making himself look silly, especially for a churchman who believes God made us all.
"The idea that somehow or other gay people are suffering from an ailment was checked out years ago.
"I suggest that the Church has got its focus all wrong. There are so many other problems they should be talking about, but they have sex, and particularly gay sex, on the brain.
"Comments like this are doing more damage to the Church than to gay people.
"People are coming round to the fact that being gay is no big deal and are realising that we are not all that different to anyone else."
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