I returned to an extremely hectic day yesterday and never got around to posting today's blog in advance. Sorry to the early birds. This morning I arrived at my study to find a Globe and Mail article under my study door, tucked in there by Joe. He is a faithful Globe reader as am I, and several of you.
It was actually the story I was going to write about for today -- honest! An Anglican vicar in Britain was told by town council that he had to remove a flag depicting Jesus from church property. It was deemed religous advertising, which is not allowed in this community. Now, you have to wonder if the councillors understand that the shape of churches, stained glass windows with biblical scenes, those pesky crosses, could all be construed as religious advertising.
I found this intriguing because I have wondered when someone or some group in this country would decide that exterior crosses, nativity scenes, and other Christian symbolism is publicly offensive, even when on church property. Our Bowmanville ministerial has been told that we can't advertise any of our events on municipal bulletin boards, nor will town council acknowledge something as benign as Interfaith Chaplaincy Week because it is just too religious. Will church property be next?
Bye the way, the vicar was advised that flags for patron saints are permissable, but don't they understand that Jesus is our "go-to-guy?"
Did you hear about this? What is your reaction?
I'm not surprised by this at all. In the small village where I serve the only other public building is the school. We have been told posters on the bulletin board there can have the church name as a location but not if it is a church function. If we want to advertise a yard sale and bbq we can call it a "community spirit day". Anything that appears to benefit the church cannot appear but if it benefits the community it is okay. Doesn't that beg the question...
ReplyDeleteYou know Anne, that if the church in your community decided to close its doors there would probably be a hue and cry about the loss. So why has our culture become so nonsensical about all of this, acting as though religion is a liablity rather than a strength for society?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your perspective.
Stupid is as stupid does.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so strange. In some ways, I understand the separation of church and state (or public buildings), but it almost sounds like people are scared. What are they scared of? Will the public protest the advertising of religious functions? If so, why? There seems to be almost a fear of evangelism.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Deb. The only thing I can figure is "fear" drives this worry of religious advertising, in any sense. At times it feels we are discriminated against in a country and time when we claim to be open and inclusive.
ReplyDelete