Anglicans in Sydney have criticised remarks by Christian Democrat leader, the Rev Fred Nile, that the chador ‘worn only by Islamic extremists’ should be banned in public places for security reasons.
Bishop Robert Forsyth, said such comments ‘demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of the nature of religious freedom in a liberal-democratic society’.
“It is not approproate for the government to be determining what are ‘legitimate’ religious practices. Imagine the outrage among Christians if politicians attempted to pass laws enforcing a ‘politically correct’ vision of Christianity.”
Bishop Forsyth said he was ‘dissapointed’ the comments had been made a Christian leader. “God demands Christians go the extra mile to love their Muslim neighbours. We should not advocate laws that strip Muslims of their freedoms just so Christians will feel more secure,” he said