Christian-Muslim interfaith relations are at breaking point in Birmingham as the Church of England refuses to support the Muslim community in its stand against the sexualisation of primary school children at the Parkfield Community School in Saltley, an inner-city area in the Diocese of Birmingham.
Mariam Ahmed, a mother-of-two leading the protests, had appealed directly to Rt Rev’d David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham and Sarah Smith, Birmingham Diocesan Director of Education, asking for “support towards our campaign which has now been running since 7th January.”
In a detailed email, Mrs Ahmed explained that the parents were not homophobic or transphobic, they were not against anyone, they fully respected the Equality Act 2010 and they taught their children to respect everyone in the manner they would expect to be treated.
Stressing that the “main concern” of the Muslim parents was that the programme taught by the school was “not age appropriate” and psychologically “confusing young children’s minds as young as four years,” Ahmed said that “I and many other parents have had children coming home confused and with lots of questions as to what they are.”
This was not just a matter for Muslims, but for all faiths, she emphasised, as assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat was teaching a programme where only two of the protected characteristics named by the Equality Act 2010 predominated, i.e. gender reassignment and sexual orientation.
“We all know there are 9 protected characteristics and it is against the law to pick and choose which you can follow more than others, but Mr Moffat who is the author of the book has actually done just that by only focusing on those 2 mentioned,” she wrote, pointing out that there was no consultation with parents or parental consent given in Mr Moffat’s previous school or at Parkfield School.
However, Bishop David Urquhart, responding through Kate Stowe his Chaplain, did not offer any support for the Muslim parents. Instead, the email stated that the diocese expected church schools “to address the requirements of the Equalities Act, recognising that it is a requirement of the law to prepare our children to live in modern day Britain.”
“That includes the right for people to choose their identity and who they wish to love. We believe it is for individual Governing Boards to decide on the resources that best suit them to deliver the Equalities Act,” the email stated.
Ahmed also spoke earlier to the Diocesan Director of Education Sarah Smith and received a similar response in a phone conversation.On previous occasions, the Diocese of Birmingham has supported Muslims to the point of upsetting secularists.
In 2015, the “Boycott Halal” lobby objected to St Saviour’s Church of England Primary School in Saltley, Birmingham, succumbing to “Islamic pressure” and “being certified by the Halal Monitoring Committee.” A Facebook post from the group expressed outrage at a Church of England school “serving up NON STUNNED MEAT AND SHARIAN COMPLIANT MEALS TO ITS PUPILS!” A 2017 reportconfirmed that Anglican and Catholic schools are serving pupils halal meat from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter.
Bishop Urquhart also joined some of Britain’s most prominent imams and others in a Birmingham rally that year to affirm that Muslims opposed ISIS and announce “We are not the jihadi capital of Britain.” In a joint statement with other faith leaders, Urquhart also rejected the distortion of “Operation Trojan Horse” by the media and supported Muslims against “demonising sections of the community in a completely unacceptable way.”
In 2014, the Saltley Methodist Church Facebook page carried posts supporting the protests “against the Israeli military attacks on Gaza in Palestine, which have so far killed over 700 civilians in two weeks, including hundreds of children.” The protests were organised outside the church.
Mrs Ahmed has also written to Bishop Robert Byrne from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and to Adam Hardy, Director of Education for the archdiocese but has received no response.
None of the churches, including the local Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist or Free Church of England churches in the school’s catchment area have spoken out against the “No Outsiders” programme imposed by the school.
“The wheat and chaff will be separated.” Muslim academic Kate Godfrey-Faussett told Rebel Priest Media. “This is becoming more apparent when examining the reactions of people from all faith communities to the recent campaigns against No Outsiders and compulsory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) that are undermining our human and parental rights to raise and educate our children inline with our religious beliefs.”
Dr Godfrey-Faussett, who is leading the national Stop RSE movement against the proposed legislation, added: “To declare ourselves as Muslims, Christians or Jews brings with it a duty to stand for what we believe in. We cannot simply turn a blind eye or discard politically incorrect beliefs to move with the times when the times are moving ever increasingly towards a godless immoral society.”
Dr Lisa Nolland, Convenor of the Marriage, Sex and Culture Groupfrom Anglican Mainstream, who was one of the speakers at the school protests last Thursday, said: “The Church of England has spent£7million on safeguarding. It is now endangering the psychosexual health and development of children by LGBT teaching foisted on primary school children. This tacitly sexualises these pre-pubescent youngsters by eroticising their psychological development. In fact, it foregrounds and magnifies sex instead of turning the sex volume down. And the Church of England, along with such as Stonewall, is a lead player here. What madness is this?”
“The CofE is willing to be seen as ‘interfaith’ when it is politically correct; however, when it could have stood with morally conservative Muslims on issues of child welfare and human sexuality, it is MIA (Missing In Action). How hypocritical is this?” Dr Nolland added.
On its website, the Diocese of Birmingham calls itself “a superdiverse Diocese, with all the world’s faiths represented here.” Rebel Priest has also contacted Fr Alan Thompson from the local parish church of St Saviour, Saltley and Dr Andrew Smith, Director of Interfaith Relations for comment.
And people in the church hierarchy wonder why many of the younger generation are converting to Islam in droves. Whether you agree with the beliefs of Islam or not, at least they stand up for their beliefs, and so people see integrity and commitment.
Another wasted opportunity by the Anglican cult of nice, which has become everyone’s friend and the world’s best buddy.
Anglicans Unscripted mentioned recently that there has been this weird alliance between leftish liberalism and Islam, with Christianity made the whipping boy. But such an alliance could never last..
Perhaps a great pity that Christian parents did not follow the lead of Muslim parents and reject this evil damaging nonsense?
Saintly hand wringing and sad smiles just won’t cut it…
Issues like Rotherham repeated and the lack of assimilation of Muslim immigrants has alarmed me with their effect on England.
THIS article turns the tables.
The woman leading the protest explained two things that should have ended the argument. 1) This material is not age appropriate, and 2) the very act that authorizes this kind of thing says there are NINE protected characteristics, not two, and one cannot pick and choose which is respected or protected more.
The one that matters to me is the first. For the second, England has become a nation where its citizens are REQUIRED to adopt the religion of secular humanism, and embrace all the madness their unhinged thought leaders promulgate.
There is no free speech in England.
And for the Church of England to refuse to support the Muslims in this? That says everything about the direction the COE is going in. Any Godly primates should ignore the coming Lambeth. There is no point trying to hold back the tide with this lot.
Yes it does not bode well for our future, and it seems to me George Orwell’s “1984” becomes more significant..
I know there are still many good evangelical Anglican churches whose clergy teach the Bible and preach salvation, (as well as meeting their Parish Share); but increasing numbers of churches are expected to embrace guilt free “Christianitylite”
The CofE movers and shakers appear to be working hard to rid the Anglican Church of archaic Christian virtues and the concept of salvation.whilst retaining its privileged role as ‘The Established Church’.
If it carries on its current downward trajectory (and I live long enough!), I could see them working amicably together with the Party’s Thought Police..
“1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them..” Ephesians 5
We know that during the Nazi rise to power they were able to neutralise Christian apprehensions in various ways one of which was to remind them of their duty to obey the authorities as per 1st Peter 2:13..
[Edit: From Encyclopedia Britannica]
We British still believe in the law and order that helped bring a stability to our society, and because of that (and because it’s easier), we still obey the edicts of our governments; even though we may believe they are stupid or dangerous.
(In fact the sign of a good politician is to be able to wrap up bad law in an acceptable wrapper, knowing that even if they see through the subterfuge most good citizens will obey..)
Part of the role of the Church Universal is to proclaim the laws and values of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that means there will come times when we refuse to obey or cooperate because it goes against our faith and the good of society.
But you see, when you prefer dolling yourself up in delicately embroidered robes and taking part in elaborate ceremonies to standing up for the truth, and consequently decimating your social life…
Apologies for mixed up reference to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, that’s what happens when you’re getting old and you still think you can do two things at once.. e.g. type and listen to what your wife is telling you :0)
I think that only works at the convenience of Leftist revisionists. Nothing is more sacred to them than the LBGTwhatever cabal.
Wow. Islam stands with orthodoxy on this & Church of England stands with heresy.
The first comment on a similar story on another (secular) site was “Don’t expect the Church of England to lift a finger to support them.”
The deepest tragedy about the CofE, in my opinion, is that with the influx of Muslim immigrants, the Church had the perfect position to share the love of Christ with them. Instead of sharing the Gospel, the Church now makes it clear that sexual deviancy (speaking from the Gospel perspective) is more important to it. Christian and Muslim souls are lost as a result.
This piece nails both the stark and startling contradictions of progressivism and the hypocrisy and virtue signalling of the Church of England. After the horrific massacre in Christ Church, both Archbishops and every single bishop in England, are tweeting like crazy asking Anglicans to support Muslims. In fact, Welby even suggested that Anglicans should join in praying with Muslims, presumably in their mosques!! But when it comes to standing with Muslims who are appealing to the Church of England to support them to fight against something that will affect Christians, Muslims, Jews and all our children, the bishops come down on the side of the Government and LGBT activists like Stonewall. The CofE has not only shamed itself before God, but Muslims must be mocking the cowardly bishops.
Hmm.. that’s because regardless of how you dress them up, nobody respects a coward.
Or a creep.
So long as they pray to the Father though Jesus Christ. Is that what His Grace the AOC said?
As an aside, my wife and I yesterday slipped into the Anglican cathedral in Sydney on our way to an event and were just in time to hear a “retired” archbishop preaching. Having weeks ago heard a sermon by the Dean of the cathedral I put the two sermons together in my head and was very thankful that in Sydney we have leaders who preach godly, scriptural, orthodox, Christ-honouring sermons that are probably in short supply in English churches- at least from what I read. Our leaders also when questioned make unequivocal biblical orthodox statements on such matters a sexual morals, including marriage. Thanks be to God.
Thank God for orthodox bishops in Sydney. Here even so called conservative evangelical bishops like Rod Thomas have turned tail and put their heads down.
Very true Homer and I couldn’t agree more.
Everyone is rightly blasting the Church of England.
But what about the GAFCON-friendly Free Church of England?
The Free Church of England and GAFCON are doing nothing. The new Anglican Mission in England (AMIE) bishop Andy Lines is on a 3-month furlough in Australia! Zzzzzzzzzz….
I have to say, as I behold the march of unrestricted LGBTQXZ madness in my state, and the accompanying silence from conservative, evangelical churches, my heart sinks… Telling oneself that concentrating on getting people saved is sufficient, while the Church is silent as perversion is codified into law, is not acceptable.
I am shocked and sorry to hear this. We Brits (except for a few like Gavin and Gomes) are gutless here; I had hoped that you guys would be fighting. At least some conservatives like some of the talk show radio hosts are speaking up from what I listen to. But it is tragic that the churches have capitulated.
One is left to wonder: what’s the purpose of interfaith links if one party is not willing to listen to the matters of utmost importance to the other party?
It is to make CoE authorities feel good that they are doing something and to provide non-jobs for Interfaith advisors in dioceses all over the country. And, of course, it is to give them yet another reason to have a ‘meeting’ and talk about what we do in the ‘community’.