Hard-line Christians call for ‘Bible Belt Britain’
By Iain S Bruce
27 February 2005
sundayherald.com
BRITAIN is set to be hit by a new wave of militant actions carried out by fundamentalist Christian radicals.
Signalling a dramatic change in the tactics traditionally employed by Christian groups, the organisation that last week prevented a Scottish cancer charity from receiving a £3000 donation has told the Sunday Herald that its intervention represents the beginning of a wide-ranging campaign of protests, demonstrations and civil disobedience.
Aided by sympathetic hard-line religious groups, Christian Voice intends to target media companies, politicians and public sector organisations during a high-profile campaign designed to reverse the UK’s drift into secularism and establish a “British Bible Belt” that would provide the country with moral backbone.
“We have been too silent and too pious for too long. It’s time to come out of our holy boxes and take the battle onto the streets,” said Stephen Green, Christian Voice’s national director.
“No wonder so many men have drifted away from the church: they need something to do rather than sitting back in quiet acceptance. They need a war – and we will give them one to fight.”
Last week, Christian Voice used the threat of a backlash from Christian donors to pressurise the Glasgow-based cancer charity Maggie’s Centre into refusing the proceeds from a gala performance of the “blasphemous” musical Jerry Springer – The Opera. They now plan to employ similar tactics elsewhere .
“We have written to MPs and members of the House of Lords and nothing has changed, so let’s see if they listen to us when we’re banging on their doors,” said Green.
“We’ve looked at the success of campaign groups such as Fathers 4 Justice and the pro-hunting lobby. We have learned from them what we can, and will be putting these lessons into practice during the months and years ahead.”
Christian Voice is just one of several similar groups planning to adopt more high- profile tactics. Next month, the MediaMarch organisation plans to present Tony Blair with a 120,000 signature petition demanding tougher obscenity laws.
“There is righteous anger out there. The good people in this country have been completely ignored for too many years, and that is going to change by hook or by crook,” said MediaMarch founder Miranda Suit.
“We want to see the birth of a British Bible Belt to provide this country with the firm moral guidance it so clearly needs.” |
