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| Lord Carey attacks PM over Christian 'support' | Lord Carey attacks PM over Christian 'support' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The former archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has accused David Cameron of making Christians feel marginalised. | |
| He said it was a "bit rich" for the prime minister to tell religious leaders to face down secularisation. | He said it was a "bit rich" for the prime minister to tell religious leaders to face down secularisation. |
| This follows comments made by the PM at a pre-Easter Downing Street reception for faith leaders. | This follows comments made by the PM at a pre-Easter Downing Street reception for faith leaders. |
| A Downing Street spokesman rejected the criticism, saying Mr Cameron valued "the profound contribution" Christianity had made to UK life. | A Downing Street spokesman rejected the criticism, saying Mr Cameron valued "the profound contribution" Christianity had made to UK life. |
| But Lord Carey wrote in the Daily Mail that the government seemed to be "aiding and abetting" aggressive secularisation. | But Lord Carey wrote in the Daily Mail that the government seemed to be "aiding and abetting" aggressive secularisation. |
| He also said Mr Cameron had done more than any other recent political leader to increase Christian anxieties. | He also said Mr Cameron had done more than any other recent political leader to increase Christian anxieties. |
| Many Christians doubted the sincerity of Mr Cameron's support of Christians' right to practise their faith, he said. | Many Christians doubted the sincerity of Mr Cameron's support of Christians' right to practise their faith, he said. |
| Lord Carey said: "I like David Cameron and believe he is genuinely sincere in his desire to make Britain a generous nation where we care for one another and where people of faith may exercise their beliefs fully. | Lord Carey said: "I like David Cameron and believe he is genuinely sincere in his desire to make Britain a generous nation where we care for one another and where people of faith may exercise their beliefs fully. |
| "But it was a bit rich to hear that the prime minister has told religious leaders that they should 'stand up and oppose aggressive secularisation' when it seems that his government is aiding and abetting this aggression every step of the way. | "But it was a bit rich to hear that the prime minister has told religious leaders that they should 'stand up and oppose aggressive secularisation' when it seems that his government is aiding and abetting this aggression every step of the way. |
| 'Persecuted minority' | 'Persecuted minority' |
| "At his pre-Easter Downing Street reception for faith leaders, he said that he supported Christians' right to practise their faith. Yet many Christians doubt his sincerity." | "At his pre-Easter Downing Street reception for faith leaders, he said that he supported Christians' right to practise their faith. Yet many Christians doubt his sincerity." |
| Lord Carey also that said a recent ComRes poll suggested "more than two-thirds of Christians feel that they are part of a 'persecuted minority'". | Lord Carey also that said a recent ComRes poll suggested "more than two-thirds of Christians feel that they are part of a 'persecuted minority'". |
| "Their fears may be exaggerated because few in the UK are actually persecuted, but the prime minister has done more than any other recent political leader to feed these anxieties." | "Their fears may be exaggerated because few in the UK are actually persecuted, but the prime minister has done more than any other recent political leader to feed these anxieties." |
| He said that Mr Cameron "seems to have forgotten in spite of his oft-repeated support for the right of Christians to wear the cross, that lawyers acting for the coalition argued only months ago in the Strasbourg court that those sacked for wearing a cross against their employer's wishes should simply get another job." | He said that Mr Cameron "seems to have forgotten in spite of his oft-repeated support for the right of Christians to wear the cross, that lawyers acting for the coalition argued only months ago in the Strasbourg court that those sacked for wearing a cross against their employer's wishes should simply get another job." |
| 'PM values contribution' | 'PM values contribution' |
| And Lord Carey spoke of being "very suspicious" that behind plans for gay marriage "there lurks an aggressive secularist and relativist approach towards an institution that has glued society". | And Lord Carey spoke of being "very suspicious" that behind plans for gay marriage "there lurks an aggressive secularist and relativist approach towards an institution that has glued society". |
| "The danger I believe that the government is courting with its approach both to marriage and religious freedom is the alienation of a large minority of people who only a few years ago would have been considered pillars of society." | "The danger I believe that the government is courting with its approach both to marriage and religious freedom is the alienation of a large minority of people who only a few years ago would have been considered pillars of society." |
| However, a Downing Street spokesman rejected the criticism, saying: "Christianity plays a vital part in the Big Society, from the many brilliant church schools to the huge number of charitable causes based in churches across the country. | However, a Downing Street spokesman rejected the criticism, saying: "Christianity plays a vital part in the Big Society, from the many brilliant church schools to the huge number of charitable causes based in churches across the country. |
| "The prime minister values the profound contribution that Christianity has made and continues to make to the country, which is why he strongly backs it." | "The prime minister values the profound contribution that Christianity has made and continues to make to the country, which is why he strongly backs it." |