British and Proud
12-27-2009, 12:44 PM
Archbishop in war of words with BNP over Christianity
Dec 26 2009 by David Williamson, South Wales Echo
ARCHBISHOP of Wales Barry Morgan has become embroiled in a furious war of words with the BNP over the far-right party’s claim to represent “Christian values”.
Cardiff-based Dr Morgan denounced comments by Nick Griffin linking the party and Christianity and claiming it stood in the tradition of crusader knights who fought Muslim armies.
The Anglican leader, whose comments were echoed by other leaders of Christian faith groups in Wales, said: “I really do object to their claim to represent Christian cultural values. Unless you’re white and Anglo-Saxon you don’t seem to count for very much.
“That runs totally against any Christian understanding of humanity where we believe each person is made in the image of God.”
But his remarks have led to a furious response from party officials.
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said: “If these church leaders are not prepared to defend Christianity themselves, they should not complain when someone else does just that.
“It’s all very well people like the Archbishop talking about defending Christian values but at the end of the day they are not prepared to do anything about it. He should probably be prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act.
“Whole swathes of London, for example, are no longer Christian, and people like the Archbishop have been quite happy to stand by and see churches turned into mosques.
“If someone doesn’t stand up for real Christian values it won’t be a Christian country for very much longer but an Islamic republic.”
Dr Morgan’s comments, which coincide with his traditional Christmas sermon in Llandaff Cathedral yesterday, were made in an interview in which he also spoke out in support of the families of troops serving in Afghanistan.
He described the fear experienced by families who have loved ones in a war-zone and acknowledged the cost in human life of recent conflicts.
Dr Morgan said: “Whatever one thinks of whether we ought to be in [Afghanistan], the fact is these decisions have been made whether they were right or wrong.That’s not the fault of soldiers.
“They go because that’s what they are required to do. The families left behind are at times worried sick.
“If you are in the middle of a conflict you get on with the job and you don’t always think about the dangers [whereas] families at home are just dreading the knock on the door or the ring of the telephone.”
Support for the families of members of the armed forces has become an important pastoral task in churches throughout Wales.
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Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/26/archbishop-warning-as-bnp-target-christians-for-support-91466-25470170/?
Dec 26 2009 by David Williamson, South Wales Echo
ARCHBISHOP of Wales Barry Morgan has become embroiled in a furious war of words with the BNP over the far-right party’s claim to represent “Christian values”.
Cardiff-based Dr Morgan denounced comments by Nick Griffin linking the party and Christianity and claiming it stood in the tradition of crusader knights who fought Muslim armies.
The Anglican leader, whose comments were echoed by other leaders of Christian faith groups in Wales, said: “I really do object to their claim to represent Christian cultural values. Unless you’re white and Anglo-Saxon you don’t seem to count for very much.
“That runs totally against any Christian understanding of humanity where we believe each person is made in the image of God.”
But his remarks have led to a furious response from party officials.
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said: “If these church leaders are not prepared to defend Christianity themselves, they should not complain when someone else does just that.
“It’s all very well people like the Archbishop talking about defending Christian values but at the end of the day they are not prepared to do anything about it. He should probably be prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act.
“Whole swathes of London, for example, are no longer Christian, and people like the Archbishop have been quite happy to stand by and see churches turned into mosques.
“If someone doesn’t stand up for real Christian values it won’t be a Christian country for very much longer but an Islamic republic.”
Dr Morgan’s comments, which coincide with his traditional Christmas sermon in Llandaff Cathedral yesterday, were made in an interview in which he also spoke out in support of the families of troops serving in Afghanistan.
He described the fear experienced by families who have loved ones in a war-zone and acknowledged the cost in human life of recent conflicts.
Dr Morgan said: “Whatever one thinks of whether we ought to be in [Afghanistan], the fact is these decisions have been made whether they were right or wrong.That’s not the fault of soldiers.
“They go because that’s what they are required to do. The families left behind are at times worried sick.
“If you are in the middle of a conflict you get on with the job and you don’t always think about the dangers [whereas] families at home are just dreading the knock on the door or the ring of the telephone.”
Support for the families of members of the armed forces has become an important pastoral task in churches throughout Wales.
:thumb001:
Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/26/archbishop-warning-as-bnp-target-christians-for-support-91466-25470170/?