Archbishop speaks out on Big Brother and BNP
The Archbishop of York has spoken publicly about the alleged racism in the Channel 4 Celebrity Big Brother house.
The comments from Dr John Sentamu were part of his speech as he gave the 20th Martin Luther King Memorial Lecture in London on Saturday 20th January. Bringing the Church into the centre of what has become a diplomatic issue, Dr Sentamu said that the bullying in the house demonstrated an "ugly underbelly in society only too ready to point the finger at the foreigner, or those who might not fit in".
Last year he rejected an invitation to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Dr Sentamu further highlighted disturbing examples of continued racism in our society,commenting on the recent case of a judge who said a racial abuse prosecution brought before him was "nonsense", and advised the defendant that next time he should use language that would not refer to colour (even though it may be offensive).
Referring to these recent events Dr Sentamu quoted Martin Luther King, stating that, "ignorance is the root of all prejudice. Sadly ignorance is not in short supply".
The Observer newspaper (21.01.07) commented that Dr Sentamu disputed calls from the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, that British National Party (BNP) members should be refused communion in the Church. "Of course the BNP is wrong in its message of ethnic superiority and hatred towards all Muslims, Jews and the rest of us whom it would deport given the first opportunity, but Jesus Christ died for them as well. The communion table must always be open to those who are unworthy of it, and I count myself most unworthy of all to approach the altar of God."
Aidan Liriano (CPF Co'Ordinator)
posted by The CPF @ 10:01 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
in my city of Sheffield many churches wont marry couples because they don't attend church
and many churches don't baptise a baby because it's parents don't attend that particular church
Jesus blessing was
suffer little children to com unto me
but now the fascist of the church of England are come above the teaching of Jesus
what pathetic specimens to mankind they are
Although you're right that some churches do have many man made rules, there's also a question as to why, for exmaple, somebody with no belief in God or the church would want to take sacred vows before God in a church. The issues you raise aren't the same in all churches - in the Bible people were not baptised until they could make the decision for themselves. Of course, all people should be welcome in the house of God, but I don't think critical judgement necessarily helps the situation :)
Post a Comment
<< Home