A GROWING variety of church leaders have this week condemned the “misuse” of Christian symbols by “racist” and “far-Right” protesters.
A press release from the Presidents of Churches Together in England, on Tuesday, said that “use has been made, by some, of the symbols and words of the Christian faith to support views and attitudes actually against their message. In contrast, we want to state clearly a few of the key messages of our shared faith which might be a vital contribution to the well-being of all people in our lands.”
The cross, they said, called Christians “to like our land and its communities”, but in addition “to like members of other nations”. It continued: “The Cross and the Gospel of Christ mustn’t ever be co-opted to support the messages that breed hostility towards others. Its message never legitimises rejection, hatred or superiority towards people of other cultures.”
A letter published within the Daily Mirror and signed by greater than 30 church leaders expressed strong concern “in regards to the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross” in the course of the “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London this month (News, 19 September). The letters signatories included the Bishops of Winchester, Southwark, Manchester, Bradford, Croydon, Woolwich, and Kingston.
“We respect the appropriate to free speech, to carry different views on issues resembling immigration, the importance of healthy debate between religious communities and the necessity to disagree well when consensus is difficult,” the letter said.
It continued: “However, this rally included racist, anti-Muslim and much right elements. As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds we stand together against the misuse of Christianity. The cross is the last word sign of sacrifice for the opposite. Jesus calls us to like each our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable.”
The Bishop of Kirkstall, within the diocese of Leeds, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, last week called for the Church to “reclaim each the flag and the religion” from the far Right.
Bishop Arora, who’s a co-lead bishop for racial justice, made the comments during a sermon preached at a licensing service in St James’s, Manston, in east Leeds. It is one mile away from the Britannia Hotel, within the Seacroft suburb of Leeds, where there have been weekly protests against asylum-seekers housed there.
Bishop Arora said that “whole groups of individuals are being labelled as unwelcome, unwanted, uninvited. The rising toxic tide of racism — the sin of racism — and its impact is being felt each on this city and everywhere in the country.”
