C of E responds to Tommy Robinson’s carols event with ‘Christmas is for all’ message | Anglicanism
The Church of England has released a video in response to a Christmas carol event organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson on Saturday, as a growing number of senior church officials call for a challenge to Christian nationalism.
inside 43 seconds video, Christmas Can’t Be CanceledIn the video posted on the church’s YouTube channel, more than 20 people, from the archbishop of York to schoolchildren, talk about the “joy, love and hope” of Christmas. C of E said the message was “a simple reminder that Christmas belongs to us all and everyone is welcome to celebrate”.
Some leaders of the group oppose the dangers of Christian nationalism and the use of Christian symbols to promote the anti-immigrant views of Robinson and his supporters who attended the “Unite the Kingdom” event.
Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, warned of the potential “weaponisation” of events such as the one planned on Saturday and said the C of E must be “absolutely clear” that the true Christian message is one of compassion and welcome to all.
Bishop Arun Arora, bishop of Kirkstall and co-chairman on racial justice, said Christianity was being used “by the far right as a flag of convenience; a nationalist ideology that disguises itself behind religion”.
He added: “Any attempts to adapt Christianity to particular political agendas or ideologies should be viewed with deep suspicion. The far right has often tried to surround itself with flags or symbols that belong to us all, and now they are trying to do this at Christmas; this must be opposed.”
The bishop of Edmonton, Anderson Jeremiah, said he had written to parishes across the capital to encourage diverse congregations at a time when “separatist” figures were promoting “the false, toxic proposition that British identity equals white European identity equal to Christian identity”.
In his letter, he wrote that the perception that the decline of Christianity in Britain was a direct result of immigration was incorrect.
In fact, immigrants strengthened church congregations. In an interview, he said that a significant portion of London’s Anglican churchgoers were “people of African-Caribbean descent from Nigeria and Ghana, from Southeast Asia, from India and Pakistan, from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” while Indian priests and Filipino Catholics had revived mass attendances.
He added: “We must reject this arrogant populist religious nationalism before we run into crises. The call of Christians is to unconditionally follow the virtues of hospitality, generosity, kindness and compassion that Jesus commanded.”
Four bishops in the diocese of Southwark were appointed a statement in direct response to a caroling event organized by the far right earlier this week. “Any appropriation or corruption of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable, and we are seriously concerned about the use of Christian symbols and rhetoric to openly legitimize racism and anti-immigrant rhetoric,” they said.
“We call on all Christians to recommit themselves to working with others to build a more United Kingdom, where the values of love, humility and compassion shine in every society.”
One Article in the Independent On Friday, David Walker, bishop of Manchester, wrote that there was “something particularly disturbing about the way this great Christian festival of light, triumphing over darkness, has been appropriated as support for a dark culture war.”
Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), who increasingly disguises his far-right anti-immigrant views with Christian rhetoric and symbolism conversion to Christianity while in prisonHe told the public that the caroling event in Westminster on Saturday was “not political”.
But in emails to supporters, he said the carol concert was “a rally for our values, a beacon of hope amid the chaos of mass immigration and the cultural erosion that threatens our way of life.” “This is a statement that Britain belongs to the British people and our Christian heritage will not be silenced.”
The founder and director of the Sanctuary Foundation, which accepts refugees, is theologian Dr. Krish Kandiah said the values driving Robinson’s rhetoric are not biblical values. “He does not speak for all Christians. His basic principles are not compatible with the Christmas message,” he said. “The Christmas story is not about fear or exclusion; it is about hospitality, vulnerability, grace and love.”
A number of alternative events were held on Saturday, including worship services and a counter-protest with the slogan “Don’t let the far right divide us at Christmas”. Second, musician Billy Bragg sing a song It was written in response to Christian nationalism.
