Mark Pritchard, Tory MP for Wrekin is on a crusade, it seems…
Attempts to move Christian traditions to the “margins” of British life have “gone far enough”, an MP has said.
Mark Pritchard said “Christianophobia” of the “politically correct brigade” also ran the risk of Christianity being hijacked by extremist parties.
He said he did not want to criticise people of other faiths, but wanted to “protect the Christian tradition”.
Groan… This is more of the stuff and nonsense about nativity plays and the bollocks about poor persecuted Christians not being able to celebrate Christmas.
Mr Pritchard said the debate was particularly topical, as recent findings suggested four fifths of schools were not staging Nativity plays this year.
Yup, another bandwagon jumper. Never mind that there is no attempt by anyone to stop people practicing their faith; never mind that there is no attempt by anyone to stop “Christian tradition”. This plonker wants to have a debate in parliament about it. What, exactly, this will achieve, Lord knows.
He added: “I’m not saying there shouldn’t be choice within theatrical provision on schools. But Christmas time would be a highly appropriate time to do Nativity plays, with its message of hope and love and light.”
I believe the word he is looking for is “pantomime”… Look, No one is stopping schools staging nativity plays. If head teachers are too timid or stupid to stage one because they are afraid of causing offence, take it up with them and stop moaning about it to the rest of us, or suggesting that there is some sort of Christianophobic conspiracy going on. There isn’t.
Some people seem to want to forget the Christian tradition going back to the first century and its contribution to arts, culture and science.
Along with, one hopes, the burning of heretics, the wilful suppression of scientific discovery, religious intolerance and the conflation of fantasy with fact. Still, no one is stopping them believe whatever they want to believe; that is the basis of religious freedom – it also includes freedom from religion, and, frankly, whining Christians complaining about how hard done by they are every December is becoming somewhat wearing. It was bollocks the first time they tried it on, it is still bollocks and it will be bollocks when some pathetic apologist trots out the same pathetic whinge next year and the year after.
The National Secular Society points out the obvious:
But Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, called Mr Pritchard’s debate “a waste of precious parliamentary time”.
Indeed. However, I suppose while they are debating the validity of a fairy tale, they are not legislating away our liberty. Perhaps we should be thankful for small mercies…
He added: “Christians have absolutely nothing to complain about in this country.”
Mr Porteous Wood cited the fact that 26 bishops sit in the House of Lords and that England has an established church.
He added: “The head of state is a Christian, the prime minister is a Christian and almost all the cabinet are self-identified Christians. How on earth can anyone imagine that Christians are disadvantaged or pushed to the margins?”
Mr Porteous Wood also said: “Christians are not being pushed out of public life, if anything they are over-represented.”
Well, quite.