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Extreme secularism threatens society, warns C of E bishop
Church of England Newspaper
The Bishop of Exeter launched an outspoken attack on secular fundamentalism at a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Plymouth last week, echoing recent Vatican concerns that extreme secularism was driving religion from the public square.
Bishop Michael Langrish said that 'pluriformity' was under attack by a "particularly pernicious form of fundamentalism".
Not all fundamentalists are religious he said, arguing that one of the most persistent and dominant forms in society was extreme secularism.
"Secularism really ought to stand for, and indeed did once stand for, the creation and preservation of an open, public space in our society where none are privileged and all may be heard. Yet under the banner of political correctness and a spurious multi-faith, multicultural agenda, there is a danger that only one voice is allowed to be heard."
He gave the example of Christmas where increasingly nativity scenes and Christmas trees are banned from charity shops and official Christmas cards have 'seasons greetings'.
"Instead of depictions of the Holy Family we have glossy photos of the leader at home, and there have even been attempts to devise new events to celebrate which none but those who created them can recognise - Chrimbo, Winterval and the like."
He argued that such a 'raucous' voice was equally offensive to those of other faiths as it was to Christians.
"The real reason why we need to resist the modern secularising agenda is not because there is anything fundamentally wrong with the secular in itself. We need to challenge it because we believe that God, in the secular, the normal everyday birth of a human being has made the secular a wonderful thing, full of life, full of grace and truth - and then calls us to live it out like this every day."
Bishop Michael Langrish cited the example of a local RC/Anglican adoption agency, 'Families for Children', which was coming under 'strong pressure' to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
"At issue here are not only concerns about the right frameworks for raising children, but also questions about the respective values placed on adult rights and children's needs," he declared.
Bishop Langrish's concerns in a Roman Catholic cathedral chime with similar statements by Roman Catholic leaders about the refusal of the EU to mention Europe's Christian heritage in its constitution and the barring of the Italian Commission from the EU Commission in the autumn. The outcry over Government Minister Ruth Kelly's membership of Opus Dei has also raised concerns.
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