David Cameron has written us an Easter message where he makes his “belief in the importance of Christianity absolutely clear”.
I wasn’t quite sure what this meant so I read on. Did he mean he will be making his belief in Christianity clear or making clear his belief in its importance?
Cameron then concedes that “some argue that celebrating Easter somehow marginalises other religions” but he bravely remains an “unapologetic supporter of the role of faith.” Faith that is, rather than Christianity.
The prime minister, to be fair, does then say that the ‘Christian message’ is the bedrock of a good society and then elaborates: “The biggest area where leadership has been needed over the last five years is in our economy. We came into office at a time of exceptional pressure on the national finances.”
I still felt confused about what his Easter message to Christians actually meant so I persevered. Finally, David Cameron spelt out what is “at the heart of the Christian message”:
It’s the principle around which the Easter celebration is built. Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children. And today, that message matters more than ever.
I’m really glad he cleared this up and I’m looking forward to hearing more about this during the Paschal Triduum. For 28 years I have been labouring under a serious misapprehension. What’s ironic here is that the prime minister, through trying to convey he is not afraid to call himself Christian, has actually communicated that he seems terrified to identify as one.
The prime minister is entitled to hold whatever religious beliefs he wants and should stand by them rather than cynically trying to woo the Christian vote ahead of May 7.
To be quite frank, a Cameron rendition of Abba’s I Believe in Angels, would have contained more theological conviction than this embarrassing attempt at an Easter message.
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