Mrs Court said she told a congregation at the New Life Chapel in Wodonga on Wednesday night that being gay was a “sin of the flesh” that could be the result of sexual abuse.

St Matthew’s Church Archdeacon Peter MacLeod-Miller has labelled Court’s comments “medieval”.

“If you look at what Australia’s current sports people are doing about tolerance ... that’s rather astounding that she should be so out of touch with the real game and the real game is about empowering people, not judging them,” Father MacLeod-Miller said.

“She has a medieval view of using a bible as a book of spells and has got very little to offer the people of Albury and the people are over it.

“I’m worried it will bring more intolerance and more negativity in a community that needs more tolerance and more understanding.”

Mrs Court, a pastor at Victory Life Centre in Perth, said Father MacLeod-Miller has it “in for her” because of her stance on same-sex marriage.

“Marriage is between a man and a woman and God ordained it that way and it’s in the scriptures that way,” she told The Border Mail last night.

“If they want to live their life that way, let them live their life that way, but don’t touch marriage.”

She went on to say being gay was a “sin of the flesh” akin to adultery that was a choice and often the result of sexual abuse.

Mrs Court visited schools and spoke at a prayer breakfast at the Commercial Club this week.