I knew I shouldn’t have done the interview with PA the other night. That said, I did, and I take responsibility for what followed.
For the record (unlike the Daily Mail’s rather selective quotation which is now getting further transmitted and re-shaped – I haven’t seen the original PA copy), what I said in answer to questions was this, the nuances being clearly too subtle:
There are Christians who worry about whether they can or cannot speak about their faith at work. This is a fact. There are Christians who worry about it. However, that is not to say that their concern is justified. Furthermore, we cannot – and should not – extrapolate from (for example) one media report of a Christian being disciplined for doing so to a judgement that all Christians are concerned. This is patent nonsense. Theresa May was following a report that said we should grow up and use common sense.
I did not use the word “scared”. I did not “slam” (as I am being reported to be doing) anyone. I also said clearly that this is not a concern for me and that we should get on with it with confidence.
The bit about secularists was simply that there is too often an assumption that there is a potential tension between the faiths and that others might be offended by Christians talking about their faith or the content of Christmas. This also is nonsense. However, there can be an illiberal element to some liberals who are tolerant only of those who consent to their understanding of liberalism or tolerance. That is true. However, it is not to say that all liberals are illiberal.
Not quite how the story has run, is it?
December 2, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Since being elected to General Synod, I make a point of visiting Churches around the Diocese and listening to whatever they people want to tell me. I know bishop’s do this too- much more than I – but I might be regarded as more “one of them”.
Nobody yet has raised gay marriage; they often raise a sense that speaking their faith in the wider world invites censure and/or ridicule. This is often said by Mums about their experience at the school gates if they reference their going to church. They resent that followers of other faiths attract greater sympathy from secular minded folk.
I know that Jews and Muslims can experience sharper hostilities but maybe the fact that this is condemned openly in the media which shows little restraint where Christianity is mocked or rejected, makes the “shy Christians” feel more vulnerable than they need to.
December 2, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Not being a Daily Mail reader, I do not know your story. But if you are being misquoted by the DM, I can only sympathise.
December 3, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Reblogged this on hungarywolf.
December 8, 2016 at 3:19 pm
What or who is PA?….apologies for my ignorance!