From The Metro:
Vicar Mark Binney has been banned from flying a flag of Jesus Christ outside his church because council officials reckon it advertises Christianity. Rev Binney was threatened with a £1,000 fine as he did not receive planning permission to fly the pink flag at St Andrew's Church in Evesham, Worcestershire.
The 52-year-old had hoisted it up a 30ft pole outside the church to celebrate Holy Week at Easter, prompting a complaint from the public which led the council to take action.
He told reporters he reckons the "appalling" move is part of a gradual erosion of Christianity in the UK. "You see blatant advertising everywhere, especially at election time, where lots of people are completely flouting the law," the vicar added, "But we can't display a flag for one week – the most holy week of the Christian year."
Friday 30 April 2010
Christ on a bike flagpole
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11 comments:
I am an atheist and I still find it appalling it makes me seethe with anger.
"He told reporters he reckons the "appalling" move is part of a gradual erosion of Christianity in the UK."
Hardly surprising when the Church is so feeble. The vicar should have stood up to the busybodies, who were probably acting outside their powers anyway.
The flag was advertising? WTF do they think a church is FFS?
I bet he complied with the council's 'instructions'.
Anti, even as an atheist, I still believe (possibly wrongly) that the Church of England is, in its present form, a force for the better.
B, exactly. He just have stuck to his guns.
TGS, no doubt this is a tentative first step towards making churches remove their steeples in case they are offensive to Muslims or something.
RR, see what B says.
Hi,
The flag was only up for Holy Week, it's not a long term flag. Mark didn't give in on this issue. We intend to fly again next year!
Anon, keep up the good work.
Bravo, Rev. Binney. I withdraw my earlier remarks about the feebleness of the Church. You should fly a suitable flag all the time. I often see the diocesan flag flying from a local church.
On another note, I wonder if the same busybodies would be prepared to tell Liz she needs planning permission to fly the royal standard from Buck House. It's "advertising" (the fact that she's in residence), after all.
great news to see well respected people like yourselfs talking and asking questions
What exactly is "a complaint from the public"? What, hundreds of "the public", all with one voice? Surely it's more likely to be a complaint from a member of the public? Even it was complaints from members of the public (noting the plurals) have the Council not the wit to refer the complainants to the Reverend Binney, rather than to take up cudgels themselves?
Evidently not, which is a condemnation of what this country's become. I can't help wondering what the response would have been had a member of the public complained about an Islamic flag hanging off the local mosque.
Mind you, since the Council staff concerned evidently believed they had powers to coerce the minister to do what they wanted, I wonder if the complaint was made to Trading Standards about advertising a service with no provable benefits? :-)
A couple of months ago I saw the gay flag (that multi-coloured thing) flying over St Martin's in the Fields. I don't know if this was official or a prank of some kind. Luckily I didn't complain, as I'd probably be awaiting trial now.
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