It is not clear whether the Communities Secretary is intent on saving Christmas from ‘politically correct Grinches’ who seek to eradicate the festival that marks the birth of Christ, or from the annual Daily Mail hype which seeks to persuade us that this is so.But the BBC, Sun, Daily Express and Daily Star are unanimous in their appreciation of Father Pickles and relieved that the ‘war on Christmas’ is over.
Out, apparently, are ‘Winterval’, ‘Winter Festival’, ‘Winter lights’, ‘Celebrity lights’, ‘Luminous’, ‘Eid/Diwali/Christmas lights’, ‘multi-faith holiday’, school bans on nativity plays and shopping centres’ clamping down on carol singers.
In are Christmas lights, Christmas trees, carol singers and school nativity plays in abundance.
"We should actively celebrate the Christian basis of Christmas,” Mr Pickles says, “And not allow politically correct Grinches to marginalise Christianity and the importance of the birth of Christ.”
The essential message from the Communities Secretary is for ‘councils to stop worrying about offending people and celebrate a Christian Christmas’ : ie, let Christmas be Christmas.
His Grace is loath to play the Grinch, but he would rather hear the Prime Minister tell every Government department to stop worrying about offending minority groups whose beliefs are challenged by Christian orthodoxy or agendas are hindered by the application of the Christian conscience: ie, let Christians be Christians.
There is no point saving Christmas while the Church is being systematically undermined and coerced, and its orthodoxy gradually outlawed.
