Former Archbishop of Canterbury warns of 'strident campaign' to marginalise Christianity

UK: March 01, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has warned that Christianity is being sidelined in the UK as never before. He called on Christians to return to the public squares of Britain to speak up and defend their faith.

Lord Carey was speaking at a symposium on Christian persecution in the House of Lords. He said: 'Christianity, which has given so much to our country, is now being sidelined as never before as though it is a stranger to our nation.

Fearing the abandonment of Britain’s Christian heritage, he continued: 'We have reached a point where politicians are mocked for merely expressing their faith. I cannot imagine any politician expressing concern that Britain should remain a Christian country. That reticence is a scandal and a disgrace to our history.'

The former Archbishop of Canterbury issued a call for Christians to become more assertive about their faith and heritage: 'If we behave like doormats, don't be surprised if we are treated as though we are. It is time to return to the public square.'

Dr Carey was speaking at a symposium held by the Christian Broadcasting Council in the House of Lords. Examples were given of Christians who had been sacked or suspended from work in the UK for speaking about their faith.

Olive Jones, a teacher who lost her job for asking permission to pray for a sick pupil, told the meeting: '20 years of teaching dismissed for sharing the goodness of God in this Christian nation. I felt I had been treated as a criminal.'

Caroline Petrie, a nurse, was suspended for offering to pray for a patient. She said: 'I was told if I continued what I was doing I would be struck off the nurses' register.' She was later reinstated after seeking legal assistance.

And sex therapist Gary McFarlane lost his job with Relate after being asked what he would do if he were required to give sex therapy to a gay couple. 'I said I couldn't do that, and I was dismissed for gross misconduct.'

The meeting heard that some 250 million Christians around the world suffered persecution, and more had been martyred for their faith in the last century than at any other time.

While Lord Carey said there could be no direct comparison between the pressure being put on Christians in the UK and the violent persecution of many believers abroad, he identified a 'strident and bullying campaign' to marginalise Christianity in the UK being waged by atheists, in the name of political correctness.

‘This bullying campaign seeks to ban faith schools, despite evidence that faith schools perform better than many others. It is clear that we must stand up against this marginalising of faith. We must constantly remind society of its Christian roots and heritage.’

Dr Carey added: ‘I want to thank the Christian Broadcasting Council for the way it promotes such fearless Christian work in this country.’

 CBC chairman Olave Snelling said: ‘We in the media have the duty of telling the stories of those suffering persecution for their faith, overseas, and now, it seems, in Great Britain also - where pressure is building against Christians in what was once a Christian land.’