Epigraph:
O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware. (Al Quran 49:14)
Lincoln Cathedral (in full The Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, or sometimes St. Mary’s Cathedral) is a cathedral located in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. Building commenced in 1088 and continued in several phases throughout the medieval period. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549)
By Matthew Taylor
The Guardian.com, Tuesday 3 June 2014 16.33 BST
Church of England clergy face being defrocked if they are found to be members of the British National party or National Front after bishops ruled that the organisations’ views were un-Christian.
The church said the two groups’ views were “incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England” because of their respective stances on “equality of persons or groups of different races”. It is the first time clergy have formally been banned from membership of any political party. Anyone who defies the ban would be subject to disciplinary procedures.
The bishops’ move to in effect ban the two political parties comes after the General Synod gave final approval in 2012 to legislation making it “unbecoming” or “inappropriate” conduct for clergy to be members of a political party with policies and activities declared “incompatible” with church teaching on race equality.
The General Synod, or national assembly of the Church of England, will now have an opportunity to debate and give formal approval to the declaration when it meets in York next month. If there is no debate, the declaration will automatically come into force at the start of the meeting.
A spokesman for the Church of England said it had not considered including the UK Independence party, which has been accused of racism and widely attacked for its anti-immigrant rhetoric during the recent elections, on the proscribed list because it was not overtly racist.
He said: “I think if you look at both the BNP and NF and their manifestos and declarations it is quite clear they are racist groups.”
He said other groups, such as the English Defence League, were not included as they did not have the same formal structure as the BNP and National Front.
The BNP leader, Nick Griffin, lost his seat as an MEP in last month’s elections and the party has been riven by infighting and splits over the past five years. It was also forced to change its constitution after it was deemed discriminatory by the courts.
A BNP spokesman said: “This is indicative of the way that the Church of England is being politicised. What is written in the Bible and scripture is clearly of secondary importance to the politically correct option that these people adhere to. Where is it going to end? Are BNP members going to be allowed to be buried any more in churches? Is that where it is going to end? It makes you wonder. It is very sad to see the church go along with this.”
Nick Griffin, leader of the British National party, lost his seat as an MEP in the European elections. Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
Categories: Europe, Separation of Church and State, UK, Universal Brotherhood
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926[a]) is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and, in some of her realms, carries the additional title of Defender of the Faith.
The members of all political parties are racists because British schooling is the home of institutional racism. When the British Empire was visibly disintegrating in the 50s, the Notting hill riots gave some solace to those desperately trying to retain the Great Britain image. Then came the IRA and the Irish round-up. Paki-bashing was always fashionable and grew even more when the Ugandan Asians came ashore. Some wiseacre divided the former Empire peoples into the wheat and the chaff – New Commonwealth and Old Commonwealth.
Now the Romanians are the bête noire. Other Eastern Europeans are not far behind. Some of the British public cannot be satisfied if they do not have someone to look down on. Strangely though this prejudice does affect other UK subjects. Now the Scots are feeing the rough edge of someone’s tongue.
Northerners have always been held in low esteem by their southern cousins in the shires and home counties. Yes, someone is mighty peeved. George Bernard Shaw and the Musical My Fair Lady made it pretty clear that the English are defined by their accents. And speaking in a foreign language is verboten!
The survival of Muslim community depends on setting up state funded Muslim schools for Muslim children with Muslim teachers. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim school. Muslim children need Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental period.
IA
London School of Islamics Trust
The Muslim Times stands for Separation of Mosque-Church and State in every country of the world