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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Christian group's poetry protest | Christian group's poetry protest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Around 250 Christian activists have protested outside the Welsh assembly building about a poetry reading. | |
| Patrick Jones was invited by two assembly members to read from his collection Darkness Is Where The Stars Are, which has already led to claims it is "obscene and blasphemous". | Patrick Jones was invited by two assembly members to read from his collection Darkness Is Where The Stars Are, which has already led to claims it is "obscene and blasphemous". |
| Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice, said: "This turnout shows the strength of feeling of people." | Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice, said: "This turnout shows the strength of feeling of people." |
| Mr Jones was "shocked" by the numbers but said it was good for free speech. | |
| Protesters sang hymns and some held placards before the ticket-only event inside the Senedd building. | Protesters sang hymns and some held placards before the ticket-only event inside the Senedd building. |
| Mr Green added: We're seeing the Christian faith attacked on all sides." | Mr Green added: We're seeing the Christian faith attacked on all sides." |
| "Now it's under attack in a seat of government in the UK." | "Now it's under attack in a seat of government in the UK." |
| Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives was at the demonstration, and was asked if he was showing his support. | Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives was at the demonstration, and was asked if he was showing his support. |
| He replied: "Yes, essentially." | He replied: "Yes, essentially." |
| "Our group opposed this {reading] at the home of Welsh democracy, promoting something which is anti-Christian and we would say that if it was any recognised religion." | "Our group opposed this {reading] at the home of Welsh democracy, promoting something which is anti-Christian and we would say that if it was any recognised religion." |
| Mr Jones was asked by Labour AM Lorraine Barrett and Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black, who said he wanted to make sure the poet was not "gagged". | Mr Jones was asked by Labour AM Lorraine Barrett and Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black, who said he wanted to make sure the poet was not "gagged". |
| "I think this is a good day for democracy. We've head both sides - Patrick has had his poetry reading and it's also important for people to be able to make their views known." | "I think this is a good day for democracy. We've head both sides - Patrick has had his poetry reading and it's also important for people to be able to make their views known." |
| One of the poems that has offended Christians, called Hymn, includes a reference to Mary Magdalene having sex with Jesus. It was read by an actress Stacey Daley, from Newport. | One of the poems that has offended Christians, called Hymn, includes a reference to Mary Magdalene having sex with Jesus. It was read by an actress Stacey Daley, from Newport. |
| Patrick Jones was invited by two assembly members | Patrick Jones was invited by two assembly members |
| Mr Jones is the brother of Nicky Wire, of the Manic Street Preachers. | Mr Jones is the brother of Nicky Wire, of the Manic Street Preachers. |
| A books-signing launch event was cancelled at a Cardiff branch of Waterstone's last month after an earlier protest was planned. | A books-signing launch event was cancelled at a Cardiff branch of Waterstone's last month after an earlier protest was planned. |
| He signed copies of the collection of 30 to 40 poems in the street instead. | He signed copies of the collection of 30 to 40 poems in the street instead. |
| Mr Jones, who has said he is "really proud" of the book said after the protest: "I was really shocked at the turnout and I think that's healthy for democracy but I don't think many of them have read the poem. | Mr Jones, who has said he is "really proud" of the book said after the protest: "I was really shocked at the turnout and I think that's healthy for democracy but I don't think many of them have read the poem. |
| "A bit of a moral panic has been created but what happened at Waterstone's set a dangerous precedent." | "A bit of a moral panic has been created but what happened at Waterstone's set a dangerous precedent." |
| He insisted he had not singled out Christianity in his poems, but was questioning beliefs in society. | He insisted he had not singled out Christianity in his poems, but was questioning beliefs in society. |
| Mr Green said: "I didn't want to get party political about this, but I've had a number of letters of support from members of the assembly. | Mr Green said: "I didn't want to get party political about this, but I've had a number of letters of support from members of the assembly. |
| "The Conservative group has come out against this locally and many Plaid Cymru members have too. | "The Conservative group has come out against this locally and many Plaid Cymru members have too. |
| "I am not taking sides, I'm just telling it how it is." | "I am not taking sides, I'm just telling it how it is." |