tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443447842611499359.post6254334410574014803..comments2023-09-13T13:47:47.106+01:00Comments on The Changing Attitude Blog: Bishops who complain about crucifix ban maintain prejudice against LGBT peopleAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163737925142519555noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443447842611499359.post-51666129529031307162010-04-01T11:11:23.307+01:002010-04-01T11:11:23.307+01:00The Archbishop of Canterbury's ecumenical East...The Archbishop of Canterbury's ecumenical Easter letter http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/2804<br />is being taken as a rebuke to these bishops for whingeing about being 'persecuted Christians' in the UK.Colin Cowardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00030093527945687306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443447842611499359.post-84822589636084334252010-03-31T08:27:25.748+01:002010-03-31T08:27:25.748+01:00As an NHS chaplain I am fairly unsympathetic to th...As an NHS chaplain I am fairly unsympathetic to these so-called examples of "religious discrimination". There are things to be said about this case from both sides.<br /><br />From the Christian side I am not aware of any requirement in our religion to wear a symbol of our faith. Indeed, there is a much more substantial and biblical case AGAINST Christians wearing visible marks of their faith in the form of jewellery or anything else. And someone like Lord Carey would have been against wearing crucifixes in his younger days. And even if you accept that some Christians will want to wear these symbols, it is in no way integral to our faith. It is a cultural personal optional extra. (Incidentally, from all I have learnt, the Muslim wearing of the headscarf COULD be regarded as not integral to Islamic faith, and just a strong cultural accretion - and both of these symbols, headscarves and crucifixes, are then UNLIKE the Sikh turban, which is integral to their faith.)<br /><br />So bishops are trying to beef up a case that, even from the Christian side, is weak to start with. And making themselves look ridiculous in the process.<br /><br />Then from the point of view of the Trust, it seems to me that this is not in the slightest about religion but about uniform dress codes. There are strong health grounds for the kinds of dress code which allow only the wearing of a wedding ring. They are the same sort of codes that insist upon all those who have contact with patients and who work on wards following the "bare below the elbow code". This is not popular with many Muslims, but is there to reduce and control infection, and all of us who work in clinical contexts have to abide by it whether we like it or not. I am afraid that nurses who insist on wearing visible bits of jewellery might well be falling foul of health and safety codes as well. Leaning forwards it could get caught in patients' hair or in equipment - and it is a source that will harbour infection as it can't be washed in the way that hands can. Working in the NHS requires some restrictions on personal preferences in the form of dress and adornment. The bishops should stop trying to look ridiculous on this one and should quietly tell right-wing pressure groups like Anglican Mainstream and the Christian Legal Centre that attempts to whip up a victim mentality among Christians will get no support from them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443447842611499359.post-38562256834529236112010-03-30T13:18:48.745+01:002010-03-30T13:18:48.745+01:00I cannot agree with you on this one Collin, desert...I cannot agree with you on this one Collin, desertion of the church isn't the answer. Firm disobedience in the form of marriages, acceptance of LGBT people on the parish level and a general attitude of the treating the leadership like it's their problem and not ours is the way to take the church back. It is their problem and not ours, and they need to be reminded of that, every day. Remember, we are the church.Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00878086886816560424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443447842611499359.post-38195051177342200712010-03-30T10:05:48.016+01:002010-03-30T10:05:48.016+01:00Point taken.
What right did these bishops have in...Point taken.<br /><br />What right did these bishops have in citing a legal case that hadn't even got to court?<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.echurchwebsites.org.uk/2010/03/29/christian-nurse-shirley-chaplin-today-face-uk-christianity-media/" rel="nofollow">Christian Nurse Shirley Chaplin is today the “face” of UK Christianity in the Media</a>Stuarthttp://blog.echurchwebsites.org.uk/noreply@blogger.com