Former Archbishop Lord Carey: We mustn't be ashamed of Christmas in these
politically correct times
By STEVE DOUGHTY
Concerned: Lord Carey said that the campaign against Christmas was part of a
broader attack against the faithBritain has become ashamed of Christmas, former
Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey declared yesterday.He said Christmas cards
are censored, school nativity plays stripped of Christian content and Christmas
decorations banned in the campaign to block the festival out of the calendar.
Lord Carey said the trend was part of a broader attack on the Christian faith
which underpins tolerance and democracy in this country.
He made his remarks in support of the launch today of a move to persuade
Christians to show their faith in public and challenge employers who stop staff
expressing their Christianity.
The ‘Not Ashamed’ campaign, organised by the pressure group Christian Concern,
will encourage millions to wear a cross to work or a badge with a slogan saying
they are ‘not ashamed’ of their religion.
Pope Benedict also criticised the marginalisation of Christianity in Britain
and the accompanying push to discourage the celebration of Christmas during his
recent state visit.
Lord Carey said: ‘The attempt to air-brush the Christian faith out of the
picture is especially obvious as Christmas approaches.
‘The cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear “Season’s greetings”.
The local school nativity play is watered down or disappears altogether.
‘The local council switches on “winter lights” in place of Christmas
decorations. Even Christmas has become something of which some are ashamed.’ He
added that ‘a new climate hostile to our country’s tradition and history is
developing’.
Lord Carey asked: ‘Do we really want to consign the Christian faith and the
churches to the sidelines when they continue to give so much to our society?
And do we really want to rebrand Christmas, empty it of its meaning, and ignore
its significance for us today?’
The former Church of England leader, who retired from Lambeth Palace in 2002,
said that in many areas of life, Christianity was being pushed out of sight.
He said: ‘The evidence has been mounting in recent years. Teachers and council
employees are suspended for offering to say a prayer. A devoted nurse is banned
from wearing a cross, a British Airways worker told to remove hers. Roman
Catholic adoption agencies are closed down under new laws. Christian marriage
registrars who cannot, in good conscience, preside over civil partnership
ceremonies are summarily dismissed.’
Lord Carey was recently criticised by Appeal Court judges for intervening in a
case in which a Christian was sacked to plead for acceptance of Christian
values.
Lord Justice Laws said it would be ‘deeply unprincipled’ to protect Christian
beliefs and added that ‘it is hard to know precisely what Lord Carey has in
mind’.
Lord Carey came under fire again yesterday from secularist groups.
Andrew Copson, of the British Humanist Association, said: ‘The increasingly
desperate attempts to work up a victim narrative of “Christianophobia” by these
activists have no basis in reality.’
