No Christmas Carols

[cmotherofpirl]

The day that Christmas carols fell foul of the PC brigade

By Stewart Payne

(Filed: 12/12/2003)

A church has been told that it cannot publicise its Christmas services on a community notice board to avoid offending other religions.

The Church of England may be the established faith of the United Kingdom. But Buckinghamshire county council regards it as a "religious preference group" and the ban was upheld yesterday.

Bridget Adams with the offending poster

Officials from All Saints, High Wycombe, Bucks, hoped to promote the service of nine lessons and carols and midnight mass by displaying an A4 size poster on a board in the town's public library.

The poster contained no message or religious exhortation, simply the dates and times of the services.

It was prepared by Bridget Adams, a member of the choir, who chose the library board knowing that it would be read by people who were not regular worshippers but who might enjoy the carols.

The poster was accepted. But a week later Miss Adams noticed that it was not on display. When she asked why, the head librarian explained that it was against the policy of the county council, which had banned notices of a religious, political or sexual nature.

Miss Adams, 57, a schoolteacher from High Wycombe, said: "She was extremely nice about it and explained that the council's elected members had agreed a policy of allowing no religious material from any faith.

"When I went away and thought about it I decided that this was just not right. Surely it is better to allow all faiths the opportunity to notify the public about their services, not impose a blanket ban?

"I am quite dismayed by this. I was told that if it was simply a carol service it might have been OK. But because it was a service with an act of worship it was not. What is the difference? The singing of carols is an act of worship."

A spokesman for the Tory-controlled council confirmed the distinction, explaining that because the service contained Christian prayers it was against policy.

Margaret Dewar, who is responsible for the council libraries, said: "The aim of the policy is to be inclusive and to respect the religious diversity of Buckinghamshire.

"This means we tend not to display posters and leaflets concerning religious, political or sexual preference groups, to avoid discrimination."

All Saints, the parish church for High Wycombe, is currently without a vicar. Richard Lock, a church warden, said: "We were disappointed and do not accept that this is a good policy.

"Surely each poster could be judged on its merits? This is a form of political correctness gone too far. It should be possible to put up signs from all faiths, whether Church of England, Roman Catholic, Muslim or Hindu."

Paul Goodman, the Conservative MP for Wycombe, said: "People in my constituency who enjoy carol services will find it a very puzzling decision. They may feel that the library is not showing very much Christmas spirit."

Peter Mussett, the council's community development librarian, said his member of staff was right not to display the poster.

"We have a multi-faith community and passions can be inflamed by religious issues," he said. "We don't want to cause offence to anyone

[Kilroy the Ninja]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it begins..............

To war I say!!!!!!! :shield: :duel: :club: :pope:

[MrsFrozen]

<_< This is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. How for are they going to take this junk? Sigh...

I heard something on the radio the other day about a school banning Christmas carols. They must now be called "winter" carols.

[littleflower+JMJ]

you know when things have gotten out of hand when the minority (crazy ppl imposing their views on everyone) win and get their way, when the majority of peeps are christian?

this is ridiculous.

<_<

[Ellenita]

What a sad day - especially to be told that if it was just a carol service it would be OK. Obviously the true meaning of carols has been forgotten - I blame the fact that they are piped through every shopping centre from about mid November so they are just linked to consumerism in people's minds.

Local councils are terrified of upsetting their local communities - we directly vote for the people who sit on the council so they could find themselves out of a job very rapidly if they are seen to be discriminatory towards one particular section of the community. Although the UK is still known as a Christian country, it really is nominal now.

[Dave]

Well, as secular as England has become, is it any surprise they'd reach this point?

[Ellenita]

I don't whether England has become secular, since 'religion' still plays a part in our state occasions, and the Church of England is still very much tied to the state. Nominally Christain but not secular!

Do you mean England Dave, or the UK?! Do you see that there is a difference in the way Christianity is expressed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to that in England?

Actually I suspect that what motivated this ban is probably a fear of upsetting local muslim communities who are often fairly publicly vocal concerning their rights.

[Dave]

Do you mean England Dave, or the UK?! Do you see that there is a difference in the way Christianity is expressed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to that in England?

England is what I mean.