 A LEADING Anglican bishop has attacked the trend towards what he called a multi-faith mish-mash in ethnically diverse Britain, and said it was time to reassert the country's Christian identity. Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali also questioned heir-to-the throne Prince Charles's desire to be seen as a defender of all faiths, not just Christianity, when he takes over as monarch.
| Oh, this is great. It takes a Pakistani-born British Christian to point out that the Emperor is buck nekkid and that Prince Chuck exhibits the same core principles as a bowl of Jello. |
Pakistani-born Nazir-Ali, whose family background is both Christian and Muslim, pitched into an emotive debate about national identity in a country deeply shocked last year when four British Islamic militants killed 52 people in attacks on London's transport system. The bishop argued that the basis of British society, from the monarchy to its laws, was "Christian constitutionally".
| That's what makes Britain British, as opposed to... ummm... Pakistani or something. |
"All our values come ultimately from the Bible," he told BBC radio.
| And the Koran's not a continuation of the New Testament... |
"People of other faiths recognise this and they are not often the ones asking for a multi-faith mish-mash. They recognise the value of Britain being a Christian country," he said.
| "Sometimes they stand around scratching their turbans, wondering what the hell's going on..." |
He has complained that the Church had come under increasing pressure to convert chapels in places such as prisons and hospitals into neutral venues that could be used by people of all faiths. |