Faithful urged to wear a Cross
Scottish Catholic Observer – Cardinal O’Brien calls for visible support of Christian values in Easter appeal. Cardinal Keith O’Brien is calling on all Christians to openly wear a Cross ‘every day of their lives’ to show their support for religious values that are often marginalised in Britain today. The message, inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, is at the heart of the cardinal’s Easter Sunday homily.
http://www.sconews.co.uk/latest-edition/17746/faithful-urged-to-wear-a-cross/
Christians urge PM to change stance on faith at work
Christian Today – The Prime Minister is being called upon to defend the right of Christians to express their faith in the workplace. Advocacy group Christian Concern has today launched a campaign, Not Ashamed of the Cross, asking David Cameron to amend the Government’s statement to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on wearing a cross at work.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.urge.pm.to.change.stance.on.faith.at.work/29616.htm
Not Ashamed of the Cross
Christian Concern – Today is Good Friday – the day marking Jesus’ death upon a cross to rescue His people.
The cross is an enduring symbol of the good news of that rescue. And yet today the place of the cross is questioned in our society – part of a wider trend to push the Christian faith out of public and professional life.
Shirley Chaplin was barred from wearing her confirmation cross after nearly thirty years in front line nursing. Now hers is one of four landmark Christian freedom cases going to the European Court of Human Rights.
Before Christmas, David Cameron said that ‘we are a Christian Country. And we should not be afraid to say so.’ Just this week, he told church leaders that ‘the values of the Bible, the values of Christianity are the values that we need.’ And recently his spokesman said that ‘the PM’s personal view is that people should be able to wear crosses.’
And yet the British Government is not supporting Shirley as her case goes to the European Court of Human Rights and has even suggested that the cross is not a generally recognised form of practising the Christian faith.
We need to ask: ‘What does the Government really believe about Shirley’s cross?’ So today Christian Concern is launching the Not Ashamed of the Cross campaign to urge the Prime Minister and the Government to support Shirley and historic Christian freedoms – to stand with Shirley, and stand for the cross.
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=bed173cc9adfcad1e0e442a35&id=8ae5dc005e&e=3d3d4f7e69
Betrayal of the Crucifix
Mailonline – As PM urges support of Christianity, his own Minister tells Europe Britons do not have right to wear cross at work
David Cameron’s promise of a fightback against the assault on Christianity was sabotaged yesterday by his own ministers who declared that Christians have no right to wear a cross at work. The Home Office said that any Christian who does not like it should find another job.
The ministerial line on the right of a worker to display a token of faith was laid down in a statement to European human rights judges. It gives the Government’s opinion in a key test case.
The document, prepared under the supervision of Lib Dem Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone and approved by Home Secretary Theresa May, says Christians must be content to keep their religion for their own time.
Those who are unwilling to do so are ‘free to resign and seek employment elsewhere’.
The blunt rejection of the rights of Christians was disclosed two days after David Cameron said he believes that a ‘Christian fightback’ is under way against attempts to ban the wearing of crosses and crucifixes.
Mr Cameron told a gathering of Christian leaders that ‘the values of Christianity are the values that we need’ and Downing Street said ‘the Prime Minister has made it clear that his view is that people should be able to wear crosses.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2125855/Betrayal-Crucifix-As-PM-urges-support-Christianity-Minister-tells-Europe-Britons-right-wear-cross-work.html
David Cameron the Christian embraces a moderate religious patriotism
Guardian – Andrew Brown – Cameron is affirming the Christian character of the nation – in contrast to what might be called English nationalist Christianity.When David Cameron talks about “we Christians” at a Downing Street reception, almost the last explanation that would occur to anyone is that he is being sincere. Yet this can’t be entirely discounted. He has been a regular church attender in his London life. But so was Tony Blair, at different churches, and he wouldn’t talk about his faith until after he had lost power. So something political must have changed as well. One obvious explanation is that Cameron’s “big society” was itself an idea informed by Christianity. In part this was because the churches and the voluntary sector were meant to deliver some of the services that the state no longer does.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2012/apr/04/david-cameron-christian?newsfeed=true