Poxon backs Pope

Mar 10 2010 by Kenneth Speirs, Paisley Daily Express

A LEADING Salvationist has bridged the religious divide and backed the Pope’s stand on the UK Government’s Equality Bill.

The bill aims to ban discrimination, including that against gay people, in the work place.

But in an address to senior Roman Catholic Clergy from England and Wales, Benedict XVI said the legislation “violated natural law”.

This was seen by many as the Pope’s wish to keep a ban on gay people from church positions.

Now, Major Stephen Poxon, of Paisley Salvation Army, has backed the Holy Father, saying Christians have a right to comment on politics and act according to their consciences.

Major Poxon said: “For reasons of personal theological conviction, I am a Protestant Christian, not a Catholic one.

“However, I thank God for the stance that Pope Benedict XVI has taken against the Government’s ludicrous Equality Bill.

“In a day and age when Christians are often beaten into verbal and social submission by the loathsome tyranny of political correctness, it is delightfully refreshing, and heartening, to know that at least one Christian leader is not afraid to publicly, and bravely, voice an opinion.

“As a Christian leader myself, here in Paisley, I am happy to nail my colours to the mast and stand alongside his statement.

“There will be those who will question the right of the Pope, the Church and Christians in general to comment on politics.

“The validity and legitimacy of such questioning has, I’m afraid, run its course the moment politics begins to infringe upon the moral wellbeing of a nation.

“Then, the Church at large has every valid right to pass comment, and to forcibly withstand legislation such as the Equality Bill.

“As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, ‘When people tell me the Bible and politics don’t mix, I want to ask them which Bible they are reading’.”

Major Poxon said he was “not anti-gay, per se”.

He added: “Every human being has the freedom to live as they please, and I have no time for fascism. By the same token, the Church has the right to set its standards without being penalised by the government of the day.

“How can, on the one hand, the Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman and her cohorts fly the flag for freedom of conscience while, at the same time seek to limit the freedom of Christians to act according to their beliefs and consciences?

“Frankly, it beggars belief. Were she and her party not so blinded by the red mist of populist politics, she might just be able to recognise the staggering hypocrisy of the Equality Bill.

“Not only is it unfair and badly composed, it is also pretty nigh on unworkable. As an ideological notion, it equates to political suicide by naivety.”

And Major Poxon said the Government should take a leaf out of the Pope’s book.

“The Government and the Labour Party should hang their collective head in shame that it has taken an octogenarian who lives hundreds of miles away to spell out common sense,” he said.

“Political correctness is slowly but surely giving way to insanity as churches are threatened with being forced, by absurd legislation, to employ, for example, atheists.

“I have no axe to grind with atheists, per se, but is it not blindingly obvious that, in some instances, basic intelligence and ordinary reason must prevail?”

He went on: “What next, under this nonsensical bill?

“Vegetarians fined for failing to eat meat, because in not doing so they offend butchers? Librarians penalised for failing to lend fresh fruit, because in not doing so they victimise and upset greengrocers?

“I do, of course, illustrate in order to make my point.

“But were we not expected to regard the Equality Bill as a serious piece of political thought, it would be as comical as that.

“Thank God for the Pope’s clear and forthright stance.

“It’s a breath of fresh air in the stifling atmosphere of politics going mad.

“The Church must be allowed to be the Church, and people offered every opportunity to take it, or leave it, as they prefer.

“What is so woefully wrong in this instance is the insistence of some politicians that the Church becomes something it is not, nor was ever intended to be. Let the resistance begin.”

A spokesman for the Government Equalities Office said: “The Pope acknowledges our country’s firm commitment to equality for all members of society.

“We believe everyone should have a fair chance in life and not be discriminated against.

“The Equality Bill will make Britain a fairer and more equal place.”